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DESCRIPTION 

OF 
INCLUDING 

A GUIDE 

TO THE 

DRIVES, RIDES, WALKS AND EXCURSIONS: 

WITH 

A MAP OF THE WALKS; 
A PANORAMIC SKETCH OF THE OBJECTS 

FROM THE WORCESTERSHIRE BEACON, 
And other Embellishments. 



Second Edition, Corrected and Enlarged. 



-"VvU 




PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR; 

By G. Nicholson, Stourport. 

SOLD AT THE LIBRARY-HOUSE MALVERN; 

AND BY ALL OTHER BOOKSELLERS. 




- 




Vnntv&fyc.' 



MALTEMT ABBKY CHURCH. 



A 

DESCRIPTION 

OF 

w a Jhw mm r* 

INCLUDING 

A GUIDE 

TO THE 

DRIVES, RIDES, WALKS AND EXCURSIONS: 

WITH 

A MAP OF THE WALKS ; 
A PANORAMIC SKETCH OF THE OBJECTS 

FROM THE WORCESTERSHIRE BEACON, 
And other Embellishments. 



Second Edition, Corrected and Enlarged. 



. "V. I 



"\\X 




PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR; 

By G. Nicholson, Stourport. 

SOLD AT THE LIBRARY-HOUSE MALVERN ; 

AND BY ALL OTHER BOOKSELLERS. 






(Enteral at ©tationrr.s' Ipall. 




TO 

EDWARD FOLEY, 



•tofce 6Ditb park, 

HEREFORDSHIRE, ESQUIRE, 
THE PATRON 



PRINCIPAL PROPRIETOR 



THESE PAGES ARE DEDICATED, 

AS A TESTIMONIAL 

OF SINCERE RESPECT AND GRATITUDE, 

BY HIS MUCH OBLIGED 

AND MOST OBEDIENT HUMBLE SERVANT, 

Mary Southall. 



PREFACE. 

.After the encouragement which the first edition 
of this work has received, by a rapid sale, I am in- 
duced to solicit a prolongation of that indulgence 
which has favoured and patronized my humble 
efforts, in endeavouring, as plainly and concisely 
as possible, to guide the visiter of Malvern, to the 
most beautiful and interesting parts of this neigh- 
bourhood. Tho' ample scope has been afforded 
to my labours, it will appear a matter of surprise, 
that one whose time has been devoted more to the 
toil of business, than to the cultivation of letters, 
should have assumed courage sufficient to appear a 
second time before the tribunal of the public. 

A slight inspection of the following pages will 
discover that my industry has been considerable, 
and that I have not been inattentive to any correc- 
tions and improvements. 

In acknowledging my obligations to the author 
of the " Cambrian Traveller's Guide," for his 
friendly revisal of my manuscript, I do no more 
than comply with what justice and gratitude 
demand. 

Library-house, Malvern. 
August, 1825. 



CONTENTS. 



Dedication, page 3 

Preface, 5 

Contents, 7 

Description of Great Malvern, 9 

Malvern Hills, 11 

Mineralogy, 18 

Great Malvern Village, 27 

Chalybeate Spring, 32 

Holy Well, 25 

St. Ann's Well, 36 

Priory of Great Malvern, 49 

Church of Great Malvern, 56 

Library and Reading-room, 87 

Baths, 91 

Hotels at Great Malvern, 94 

Post-office, 97 

Charitable Institutions, 99 

Forest or Chase, 111 

Walks and Drives, 120 

Objects from the Worcestershire Beacon, 125 

References to the Panoramic Sketch, 154 

Walks on the Hills, 155 

Ride over the Hills to the Wells, 169 

Drive to Little Malvern, 171 

References to the Sketch of the Walks, 179 

The same alphabetically arranged, 181 

Drive to the Herefordshire Beacon, 182 

Drive to Eastnor Castle, 187 



CONTENTS. Vll 



Drive to Ledbury, 189 
Excursion to Worcester, 195 
Noblemen and Gentlemen's Seats, 204 



Plants, 215 



Terms of Southall's Boarding-house, 217 
Coaches, &c. 218 

Index to the Names of Persons, 219 
Index to the Names of Places, 221 



A DESCRIPTION OF 

flUdfoerm 

GREAT MALVERN, 

In the county of Worcester, is situated in the lower 
division of the hundred of Pershore, and deanery 
of Powick; bounded on the east, by Handley Cas- 
tle; on the west, by Math on, in Worcestershire, 
and Caldwell, in Herefordshire; on the south, by 
Little Malvern; and on the north, by Leigh. The 
village is delightfully stationed on the eastern de- 
clivity of the range of hills, in the curvature formed 
by the Worcestershire Beacon and North Hill, dis- 
tant 8 miles from the city of Worcester, 8 from Led- 
bury, 23 from Hereford, 9 from Upton, 16 from 
Tewkesbury, 17 from Pershore, 25 from Glouces- 
ter, 25 from Cheltenham, 47 from Leamington, 
and 120 from London. This magnificent range of 
hills is an object which strikes every visitor, irresis- 
tibly arresting the eye from whatever point he ap- 
proaches, and therefore demands ourfirst attention. 
The name Malvern is derived, probably, from the 
British Moel, a mountain, and Gwern, alders. 

An anonymous writer in the London Mag. vol. 
vi. pa. 213, says, « Malvern was the spot first im- 
mortalized by the pen of Langlande, the earliest 
british poet. It was the birth-place of the british 
^use; the sceneof the " Visions of William con- 
cerning Piers Plowman," of which Langlande is 

2 



10 



GREAT MALVERN. 



f r^+ *■■* <**• *\r #^ 



the reputed author, and which were written about 
the year 1352. John Malvern, abenedictine monk, 
has also been supposed the inditer of this curious 
poem. A wise man called William, falls asleep 
among the bushes, 

In a summer season, when softe was the sun, 

I shope into shrubs, as I shepherd were; 

In habit as a hermit unholy of workes 

That went forth in the world wonders to hear, 

And saw many cells, and selcouthe things ;. 

As on a May-morning, on Malvern hills 

Me befel for to sleep, for weariness of wandering ; 

And in a laund as I lay, leaned I and slept. 

He dreams that he beholds a magnificent tower, 
which is the fortress of truth, &c. Thus Malvern 
was noticed in verse before the days of " righte 
merrie" Chaucer. It must therefore, henceforth, 
be the british Parnassus ; it's springs must be those 
of our Helicon, and Tempe could not have exceed- 
ed in fertility the rich vale of the Severn at it's feet, 
the poetical Sabrina of Milton and Spencer: 

" The Severn swift, guilty of Maiden's death." 

1 1 is astonishing that the summer flies of the metropo- 
lis have not made Malvern a more common resort. 
Fashion, it is evident, is governed by caprice and 
the dulness of a sandy plain, the sterility of Brigh- 
ton (tho' indeed the latter has the ocean to redeem 
it's execrable land of barrenness) the beautifulsame- 
ness of Cheltenham, or the wastes of Bagshot, are 
all of equal excellence in her eyes. Comparatively 
but few persons visit Malvern in the season, a se- 
lect few only of superior taste, notwithstanding 
that it's springs, air and natural beauties, render it 
superior to any place of public summer resort in the 
kingdom. I do not envy the being who cannot 



HILLS. II 



admire the " blue steeps of Malvern," as Dyer calls 
them, and who does not wish to " steal" thither 
" from the world." 

Ye mountains, nobly prominent! afar, 
Like clouds thick clust'ring huge, august and high, 
To your proud tops I shoot the willing glance; 
Mountains of pastoral beauty, spotted o'er 
With happy flocks, and cloth'd with liveliest green, 
Where oft resounds the Shepherd's rustic song; 
Mountains, surveying trees of richer bloom 
Than Tempe boasts, or Appennine beholds ; 
Vales more abundant, fields of kindlier soil, 
Woods more umbrageous of imperial oak, 
High o'er the champaign your stupendous form 
Rises in varying majesty, your brows 
Sometimes dark frowning, and anon serene, 
Wrapt now in clouds invisible, and now 
Glowing in golden sunshine. 

DR. BOOKER'S MALVERN. 



MALVERN HILLS. 

These extensive and lofty hills, which may, with- 
out impropriety, be styled the Alps of England, ex- 
tend to the several counties of Worcester, Here- 
ford and Gloucester, encompassed on the east by 
an extensive plain, and on the west by an uneven 
but fruitful tract of country. They are situated a- 
bout 8 miles south-west from Worcester, 20 east 
from Hereford, and 14 north-west from Gloucester. 
Their geographical situation is in about 52 degrees 
of north latitude and 1 15 miles north-west, or three 
degrees longitude west, from the meridian of Lon- 
don, running nearly in a line from north to south ; 
viz. from Leigh Sinton in the county of Worcester, 
to Broomsberrow in the County of Gloucester; 
the former being the most northern and the latter 
the most southern extremity. They extend, in one 
chain, about nine miles in length ; their breadth is 



12 HILLS. 

very unequal, varying from one to two miles. The 
boundary which divides the counties of Worcester 
and Hereford, passes along the western side. The 
several parts of the chain present rounded summits, 
covered, from one end to the other, with vegetatiou. 
When viewed at a distance from the eastern side, 
a gradual rise is perceptible, and three of the hills 
form the principal features, as they are elevated con- 
siderably above the general outline. The highest 
parts in the whole range are those denominated 
the Worcestershire and Herefordshire Beacons. 
Upon the crest of the Herefordshire Beacon, which 
is situated in the parish of Little Malvern, about 
two miles northward from the ruins of Bransil Castle 
and about four miles from the village of Great Mal- 
vern, are the remains of one of the strongest and 
most important Hill- Fortresses in the kingdom. 
(See chapter " Herefordshire Beacon".) 

About a mile and half further, upon a protuber- 
ance of the hill, are the remains of another CAMP, 
consisting of a single ditch, the form and appear- 
ance of which, denote that it was not thrown up by 
the same people, or at the same time as that before 
mentioned, but probably at a much earlier period. 

On the declivity of this beacon, at a short distance 
from the top, on the south side of the intrenchment, 
you find a CAVE, 49 ^cut in the rock, somewhat of 
an oval form, but of rude workmanship and small 
dimensions; the entrance being about four feet wide, 
and six feet high, the concavity is ten feet in length, 
six feet in breadth, and seven feet high ; but by 
whom it was cut out, or for what purpose, is un- 
known. Some conjecture that it was the retreat 

* These numbers refer to the sketch. 



HILLS. 13 



=of a recluse, while others suppose it may have been 
the refuge of some shepherd from the heat or from 
the storm. 

Returning along the ridge towards the Worcester 
Beacon, you arrive at a Building constructed of 
sod, having a range of seats, which serves for a 
a resting place, or a shelter from a shower. 

Mr. Barrett says, « a notion has long prevailed 
among the inhabitants of the country, that much 
treasure has been lost, or deposited, in the Malvern 
hills, but whence such an opinion originated cannot 
be conjectured. However, a quantity of silver coin 
was found in the year 1 650, on the western side of the 
hills, in the parish of Mathon. The most valuable 
as well as most singular part of the discovery, was 
a Coronet, or Crown of Gold, and it's appenda- 
ges, as mentioned by Camden and other historians. 
A manuscript account of the particulars of this dis- 
covery, is kept in the library of Jesus College, 
Oxford, of which the following is a copy; 

" Within the distance of a musket shot from the 
trenches of the camp, in the parish of Collwall, in 
Herefordshire, was found in the year 1650, by Tho- 
mas Tailer, near Burstner's-Cross, as he was dig- 
ging a ditch round his Cottage, a Coronet, or Brace- 
let of Gold, set with precious stones, of a size to 
be drawn over the arm and sleeve. It was sold to 
Mr. Hill, a goldsmith, in Gloucester, for thirty 
pounds. Hill sold it to a jeweller in Lombard-street, 
London, for two hundred and fifty pounds, and the 
jeweller sold the stones, which were deeply inlaid, 
for one thousand five hundred pounds, as Mr. 
Clough, of Lombard-street, reported." It is the 



14 HILLS. 



opinion of many people, that this was not a brace- 
let for the arm; but a Coronet or Diadem for the 
head; and was worn by a British Prince, for ac- 
cording to Rowland, the Princes of Wales, wore 
upon their bonnets, or helmets, Coronets of Gold, 
being broad head-bands, indented upwards, and set 
with precious stones. It is much to be lamented 
that this invaluable relic of antiquity should have 
been demolished. 

The two other prominences are situated nearly 
together, at the northern extremity. One from it's 
situation, is called the North Hill, the other, which 
lies on the south, the Worcestershire Beacon. An- 
cient writers supposed the Herefordshire Beacon to 
be the highest point of the hills, but from an accu- 
rate admeasurement by Mr. Barrett, we learn that 
the Worcestershire Beacon is the highest, the latter 
rising thirteen hundred and thirteen feet, and the 
former but twelve hundred and eighty feet above 
the adjacent country. 

In the table of altitudes, taken in the course of 
the ordnance survey of England, and published by 
that board, the height of the Malvern hills is stated 
to be one thousand four hundred and forty-four 
feet. " I am informed," says Mr Horner, in his 
Mineralogy of Malvern hills, " by Lieutenant Col- 
onel Mudge, that the particular hill to which this 
measurement refers, is the Herefordshire Beacon. 
I obtained, however, that of the Worcestershire 
Beacon and North Hill. The instrument I made 
use of was Sir Henry Englefield's portable barom- 
eter, and the following are the results of my obser- 
vations. My lowest station was at the north-eastern 



HILLS. 15 



extremity of the Common called the Link, from 
which point, there is almost a dead level to the 
banks of the Severn. 

*' The Worcestershire Beacon, by the mean of three 

observations, 1238 feet 

The North Hill, by the mean of two observations, . . 1151 
The road before the Crown Hotel in Great Malvern, 
was 273 feet above that plain, or 333 feet above 
the lineof the Severn, by a mean of three obser- 
vations, 273 

The Worcestershire Beacon inclines to the south 
of the village, and probably derives it's name, as 
well as the Herefordshire Beacon, from it's being 
used as a signal station, on account of it's great 
height, when the adjacent country was a seat of 
war. 

A beautiful ascending serpentine Valley, of con- 
siderable extent, separates the Worcestershire Bea- 
con, from the North Hill, and another divides the 
latter from the End Hill. These Vallies run from 
east to west and not parallel to the chain ; the form- 
er arising from the basis of the Sugar Loaf Hill, and 
terminating at the foot of the Shrubbery-House. 

The views from the eastern and western sides of 
the Malvern Hills present very different appear- 
ances. Upon the eastern or Worcestershire side, 
you see one continued level, interrupted only by 
small woody hillocks ; upon the western or Here- 
fordshire side, the contrast is great, there being a 
succession of hillsrisingoneabove the other, termin- 
ating in the Welch mountains. Malvern was an- 
ciently included in the southern limits of the Or- 
dovices, or that part of North Wales which con- 
tains the counties of Montgomery, Merioneth, 
Caernarvon, Denbigh, and Flint. 



16 HILLS. 



The prospects from these hills are amazingly ex- 
tensive, bounded only by an uninterrupted panor- 
amic horizon. Upon the Worcestershire Beacon 
you may descry the counties of Monmouth, Here- 
ford, Radnor, Brecknock, Salop, Warwick with 
Edge-Hill, Stafford with Sedgley Beacon, Wor- 
cester, Gloucesterand Hereford ; the rivers Severn, 
Avon and the Teme; also the Bristol Channel. 
Encompassed by a lofty range of Mountains, you 
see the Wrekin and Clee Hills in Shropshire, the 
Lickey Hill near Bromsgrove, the Black Moun- 
tains in Brecknockshire, the Hills in Abergavenny, 
the Gloucester Hills, and a view of the city; Chel- 
tenham, and Ledbury Mount, but to particularize 
all the delightful views which may be seen from the 
summits of the Malvern hills, would exceed the 
limits of this small work. 

The surface of the more elevated part of Mal- 
vern Hills is productive of gorse and fern ; in 
others, it is a sweet turf, affording excellent sheep- 
pasture. The mutton, which is small, is much es- 
teemed for it's mild flavour. The Digitalis purpurea 
or purple Fox-Glove, is so very plentiful and luxuri- 
ant about the hills, particularly near the Serpentine 
Valley, which separates the Worcestershire Beacon 
from the North Hill, that in the months of July and 
August, it appears, at a distance, a beautiful flower- 
garden. The Campanula rotundafolia, or round 
leaved bell-flower, is found in many parts of the 
hill, chiefly on the basis of the Worcestershire Bea- 
con, and along the sides of Mr. Darner's walk. 
The extensive scenery around, presents, on one 
side, a campaign of the richest cultivation, inter- 






HILLS. 17 

spersed with numerous mansions, lawns, woods, 
and the golden plantations of the country, peopled 
with cheerful and thriving towns and enlivened by 
the busy streams of the Severn and Avon. Wind- 
ing vallies are mingled with hop-grounds, gardens, 
seats and swelling woods. In short, nothing is 
wanting to constitute the sublime and beautiful in 
landscape. 

We cannot conclude our description without 
noticing the enchanting prospect from the hills 
and village on an autumnal evening. The subli- 
mity and picturesque beauty of it's effect upon the 
Worcestershire side, is beyond the power of pen 
to describe. When the weather is very clear and 
the sun is obscured by the hills, leaving the village 
in shade, the more distant prospects appear richly 
glowing with it's declining beams. This is the 
time when this delightful vision can be enjoyed. 
When the nights are frosty, another fine effect is 
produced in the morning, and not unfrequently 
throughout the day. The vales of Evesham, 
Gloucester, and the whole extent of country, up 
and down the course of the Severn and Avon, as- 
sume the appearance of a smooth sea, while Bredon, 
Drips Hill, and other eminences appear as little 
islands. Frequently has the traveller to Malvern 
been enveloped in a dense fog, for many miles, 
on approaching this place ; but arriving at the vil- 
lage, to his great surprise, he has found a charming 
sunshine, the fog settling in the vale below. Altho' 
this delightful place, in common with all others, 
is deprived in winter of the beauty of foilage, in 



18 MINERALOGY. 



********** rr* 



the nearer view, the beauty of the distant prospect 
is no way diminished. 

From these stupendous heights, the wandering eye, 
By telescopic aid, delighted sees 
A hundred temples rise ; ten fertile Shires, 
Three cities, fam'd, with their cathedral towers ; 
Villas, innumerous, glittering to the sun, 
With many a rural cottage, the abode 
Of pastoral simplicity; blossom'd trees, 
Silvering the distant orchards ; Cambria's heights, 
Where the bright sun declines, burst on the view 
AH forms assuming. 

DR, BOOKER'S MALVERN. 



MINERALOGY. 

For an analysis of the Mineralogic construction 
of the great masses of these mountains, and nearly 
the whole of the eastern side, we are indebted to 
the genius and industry of Leonard Horner, Esq. 
F. R. s. &c. who deposited in the collection of the 
Geologic Society, a series of specimens illustrative 
of the mineralogy of this district. He describes the 
rocks as extremely diversified in their composition 
and ambigious in their character, consisting of dif- 
ferent compounds of felspar, hornblende, quartz, 
andmica, in variousproportions with, occasionally, 
epidote. These are irregularly heaped, in large 
masses, and in no part were they discovered dis- 
posed in any way which could be considered as a 
continued stratification. These, he says, constitute 
the greater part of the range ; and there is a large 
quanitity of granite. Specimens of hornblende and 
mica, variegated with copper and iron pyrites, may 
frequently be picked up. The mass displayed in 
in the Wych is principally granite, in which red fel- 
spar predominates; and the mica, which is abun- 



MINERALOGY. 19 



dant in some places, is of a dark colour. But that 
which particularly catches the eye of the tourist, is 
a quantity of argillaceous rock, which fills up the 
spaces between the masses of granite. This is of a 
dark olive green colour, with an imperfect slaty 
structure ; and when broken across, shews an earthy 
fracture; and the flat thin masses into which it 
breaks, have smooth and shining surfaces. 

Wm. Phillips, Esq. fls. mgs. L. & c. and hon. 
mem. of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, has 
communicated to the editor of the " Annals of Phi- 
losophy" a paper, " On the Geology of the Malvern 
Hills," in which he details some circumstances which 
had escaped the notice of Mr. Horner, see New Se- 
ries, vol. 1, p. 16, dated Jan. 1821. Mr. Phillips's 
avowed object in this communication is to shew 
that the rocks of this range are occasionally strati- 
fied, and to do away the received and erroneous 
opinion that they partly consist of granite. 

« The nearest place to Great Malvern," says Mr. 
Phillips, " where a strong tendency to regular 
stratification appears, is about three miles on the 
south of it, and about 100 yards beyond the stone 
inscribed " Ledbury four miles." The beds con- 
sist of red felspar, from an inch to a foot in thick- 
ness, enclosing quartz, and hornblende, rarely mica. 
The interstratified substances, are hornblende, oc- 
casionally mixed with talc, and sometimes includ- 
ing a thin layer of red felspar and quartz, or of 
granular felspar with hornblende, greatly resem- 
bling mica, of which the slaty structure is parallel 
with the beds of felspar. Here and there are layers 
of granular quartz, mica, felspar, and hornblende, 



20 MINERALOGY. 



the plates of the mica being parallel with the gene- 
ral dip of the beds ; hornblende, sometimes of a 
slaty structure, occasionally occurs in the same di- 
rection, but it now and then appears to pass into 
an earthy substance, having somewhat the appear- 
ance of lithomarge. These beds vary from half an 
inch to a foot in thickness, and tho' not strati- 
fied with perfect regularity, are visible for nearly 
100 feet in length, and \2 or 14 feet in height, 
above which the hill is covered with verdure. 
Many of the beds may be traced for several feet. 
These beds dip at an angle of about 20 degrees to 
the north-east. In this place, these beds are tra- 
versed by a dyke or vein of greenstone, about 2 
feet wide, except that it narrows a little about 18 
inches above the road, and dipping nearly north at 
an angle of about 70° with the horizon. The 
greenstone of the dyke is so remarkably fine- 
grained as to require the assistance of a glass to 
discover that it is a granular rock, and it lies in 
narrow layers running nearly parallel with the 
sides of the dyke, but which are traversed by crev- 
ices not quite at right angles, so as to divide the 
layers into quadrangular masses. 

" Pursuing the road from Great Malvern to- 
wards Ledbury, the rocks on it's side continue to 
present some, tho' less decided marks of stratifica- 
tion, until the road turns nearly due west ; and 
just before it has attained the summit of the rise, a 
quarry appears upon the top of the hill to the right, 
perhaps 100 feet above the road. This quarry is 
open to the south, and stratification is obvious. 
The prevailing substance is red felspar. Some of 



MINERALOGY. 21 



the upper beds present interstratifications of fel- 
spar, hornblende, and mica,(?) and enclose small 
masses of attractive iron ; others of slaty hornblende 
mingled with quartz ; others again of felspar 
and hornblende. One stratum, above three inches 
in thickness, consisting wholly of slaty hornblende 
greatly resembling mica, may be traced for about 40 
feet in length along nearly the middle of the quarry. 

*' In several places upon the eastern side of the 
range, and particularly within a mile south of 
Great Malvern, many of the rocks in which horn- 
blende greatly prevails, have marks indicative of 
stratification. 

Granite has been described as being the pre- 
vailing rock at the Wych, as constituting a great 
part of End Hill, and the upper part of North Hill, 
and Swinnit Hill, by Mr. Horner. Mr. William 
Phillips says, " An anxious search among these 
rocks, every where, for more than three parts of 
the way along them, south, from their termination 
on the north, did not satisfy me that even a single 
hand-specimen of well-characterized granite could 
be found. Granite is commonly understood to be 
a rock, in which its ingredients, quartz, felspar and 
mica, are all decidedly crystalline, without the ap- 
pearance of one of them as an imbedding substance." 

The following is an account of the varieties of 
the projecting Rocks of the range, chiefly from 
Horner, interspersed with Mr. Phillips's additional 
remarks. 

Hornblende is the prevailing substance of the 
rock at Castle-Morton quarry, upon the east side 
of Swinnil'Hill. It is highly crystalline at that 



22 MINERALOGY, 



**-r**rjr-wrsn 



quarry, and sometimes contains roundish masses of 
calcareous spar, in other places specks of red fel- 
spar. It is sometimes traversed by red felspar in 
every possible direction, in veins which cannot be 
considered other than contemporaneous, from the 
16th of an inch to a foot in thickness, and rarely of 
any considerable length, and often terminating ab- 
ruptly. Thin veins of calcareous spar traverse the 
red felspar in various directions, striated contrary 
to the run of the vein ; it often contains horn- 
blende y rarely mica. It is also the prevailing rock 
of the quarry at the north part of the range. 
Hornblende rock passes into a 

Substance of a dark green colour, imper- 
fectly slaty texture, and earthy fracture, and of 
smooth surface, abounding at the Wych, and hav- 
ing the appearance of forming a bed there. It is 
interstratified with beds of red felspar, a little south 
of the four mile-stone between Great Malvern and 
Ledbury. That hornblende passes into this sub- 
stance will become manifest by the use of the ham- 
mer at the Wych. 

Greenstone and sienitic rocks, both large 
and small grained, abound upon the sides of End- 
Hill and North-Hill> and occur upon their summits. 
Very fine grained greenstone occurs in a columnar 
form, breaking readily parallel to two of its planes, 
and sometimes in the form of an obtuse rhomboid, 
as near the summit of the Worcestershire Beacon, 
and upon End-Hill. A hard and somewhat schis- 
tose rock of hornblende and felspar in minute grains 
occurs in situ upon the west side of the range, south 
of the Worcestershire Beacon, Upon the eastern 



MINERALOGY. 



side, a little south of Great Malvern, are rocks of 
crystalline hornblende, enclosing specks of red fel- 
spar and quartz, the mass being traversed by veins 
of epidote. Slaty hornblende enclosing specks and 
larger portions of felspar occurs at the Wych. 

Hornblende, reddish Felspar and Quartz, 
in small grains, constitute some of the rocks of 
End-Hill, and the summit of North-Hill, and form 
a prevailing rock of these hills. It sometimes con- 
tains magnetic pyrites, veins of epidote and sul- 
phate of barytes. 

Hornblende, Felspar, Quartz, and a little 
Mica, constitute the rocks upon the western side of 
End- Hill ; and upon the side of the road leading 
up to the Wych, hornblende prevails in the latter, 
and the rock is schistose. 

Hornblende, with a few spangles of Mica, 
and a little Felspar, upon the ridge connecting 
North-Hill and End-Hill. 

Hornblende and Mica are the constituents of 
rocks, upon the top of the hill between the Wor- 
cestershire Beacon and the Wych. 

Hornblende and Mica, in a state of decompo- 
sition mixed with red Felspar. Rocks of these 
constituents, and of a slaty structure, occur upon 
the north-east side of the Worcestershire Beacon, 
and upon the road leading from Great Malvern to 
St. Anne's Well. 

Hornblende and Epidote, with specks of 
Mica, and containing Veins of Epidote, constitute 
rocks upon the northern side of End-Hill. Rocks of 
highly crystalline hornblende enclosing specks of 
red felspar and epidote, (sometimes without the 



24 MINERALOGY 



latter) are found in various places near the north 
em termination of the range. 

Compact Felspar, of a pale flesh colour, is the 
prevailing rock upon the side of the road, as it rises 
along the side of the valley above Little Malvern, 
and winds round the northern face of the Hereford- 
shire Beacon. 

Felspar and Quartz, with a little Mica and 
Epidote, are described as principally composing 
the rocks of the western side of the range. 

Compact Felspar, Hornblende, Quartz, 
and Steatite of an earthy texture, imbedding 
detached Crystals of Felspar, form a rock 
upon the southern side of Holly -Bush- Hill. 

Opaque Quartz and silvery Mica, in the form 
of a vein, occurs upon the side of the road leading 
up to the Wych. 

Felspar and Mica, united by a ferruginous 
clay, as far as the closeness of it's texture would ad- 
mit of decision, formed a massive rock, exposed up- 
on the southern end of the range, called Eagstone- 
hill> by the quarriers. The rock is of an olive-green 
colour, and is occasionally traversed by veins of 
calcareous spar. 

Conglomerate, fine grained, of a dark brown 
colour, and composed of felspar, steatite, and cal- 
careous spar, united by a ferro-argillaceous base, 
and containing some minute specks, of a greenish 
yellow substance, in diverging fibres, which is prob- 
ably actinolite. This rock which occurs a short 
way to the south of the Herefordshire Beacon, at- 
tracts the magnet. 



MINERALOGY. 2& 



Conglomerate of rounded masses, and crys- 
tals of quartz and felspar, with some hornblende 
united by an argillaceous cement, in the new road 
lately made upon the side of the North-Hill. 

Mr. Barrett has allowed, that to demonstrate the 
origin of the Malvern Hills, exceeds the bounda- 
ries of human ingenuity. They are however either 
primary productions, or were produced at some 
very remote aera, and might have been rocks in- 
volved in the ocean. The arrangement of the ma- 
rine productions in the strata, proves that they 
were deposited by water. Many of these marine 
relicts are in great preservation. The shell-fish re- 
tain their striae, and the other kinds their respective 
vertebrae. The remains of zoophites or sensitive 
plants, which always inhabit the recesses of rocks 
in the sea, are extremely numerous. 

The direction of the strata is generally parallel 
to that of the range, but there are some exceptions. 
In the limestone of Stonyway quarry, the direc- 
tion of the strata is from east to west exactly at 
right angles to that of the range. The strata near- 
est the range is vertical. So far from the same 
stratified rock always occurring near the unstrati- 
fied, it is, in some places, sand-stone ; in others, 
the argillaceous rock ; and in others, limestone. 
Such remarkable variations can only be accounted 
for on the supposition that some violent force has 
elevated them from the horizontal position in which 
they were originally deposited. 

From an accurate examination of the variations 
in the direction and dip of the stratified rocks in 

3 



26 MINERALOGY. 



this chain, Mr. Horner thinks they afford a strong 
exemplification of the Huttonian theory of subterra- 
nean fire ; since such variations can only be ac- 
counted for on the supposition of some violent 
force, which has elevated the stratified rocks from 
the horizontal position in which they were origi- 
nally deposited. Some excellent gravel occurs, 
upon a terrace-like shelf, about half way up the 
eastern side of the range. 

The western declivities of the hills contain a bed 
of lime-stone, which is the course of a vein com- 
mencing at Pensax, and terminating at Ledbury. 
This stone is of a bluish cast, interspersed with 
whitish veins. It takes an excellent polish, and is 
used sometimes for chimney-pieces. This bed of 
limestone contains an almost infinite variety of ma- 
rine productions, particularly the remains of shell- 
fish ; such as cockles and muscles of various sizes ; 
fish encrusted with a stony concretion, or the ca- 
vities in the fish filled up by this concretion, for 
modern naturalists do not admit of the principle of 
petrifaction. Many zoophytes of the screwstone 
kind are also found here. Mr. Barrett found the 
fragment of a horn, belonging to a marine animal. 
These, together with corals, cornua Ammionis, 
sponges, vertebrae of large fish, &c. leave no doubt 
that these hills, or part of them, were once under 
water. 



27 



GREAT MALVERN VILLAGE. 

Thy village Malvern, 
Claims description's powers; and she with ready zeal- 
Unfurls her canvas for the pleasing task. 
It's sloping site from western gales secur'd ; 
It's scattered mansions, some like rural cots, 
Whited and decfc'd with woodbine or with rose, 
While some, more spacious, raise their storied heads, 
Descried from far. 

DR. BOOKER'S MALVERN. 

This charming village is found, both by the inha- 
bitant and sojourner, a very pleasing residence, 
and, in the season, is generally filled with company 
who visit the place, either for it's romantic beau- 
ties, salubrious air, or healing waters. The aspect 
of the place is so favourable to vegetation, that you 
may commonly see in the front of the houses, the 
Chinese rose and hydrangia in full bloom at 
Christmas. From the mildness of it's atmosphere, 
the late Doctor Raillie styled it the air of Mont- 
pellier. Many visitors, who have resided here in 
the winter season, have frequently expressed their 
surprise at the salubrity, warmth, and mildness of 
the air at that period of the year. This fact is, 
however, strongly evinced from the productions 
of vegetable nature, which are upwards of three 
weeks earlier at Malvern than in adjacent situa- 
tions. This may be accounted for from the soil 
being particularly dry and gravelly, and to it's 
being much elevated above the mist and dew of 
the atmosphere, which condense, and settle in the 
vale below. This fact may also be readily ascertain^ 



28 GREAT MALVERN VILLAGE. 



ed by noticing the valleys before sun-rising or after 
sun-setting. These condensations prove very de- 
structive to vegetation, as instanced in oaks. From 
this cause the lower branches are often blighted and 
destroyed, while the tops escape uninjured. An- 
other instance occurs in wall- flowers : these, in 
elevated situations, flourish, while those in the val- 
ley frequently perish. It is also noticed that the 
hills are frequently much warmer than the vale 
beneath. 

The above remarks have been made by an accu- 
rate observer, a gentleman living in the neighbour- 
hood, who has paid great attention to this subject 
and communicated these remarks. The houses in 
the village are neat and commodious, most of them 
having been recently built, and are pleasantly sta- 
tioned among orchards, gardens and plantations ; 
the scenery of the neighbourhood combining in a 
happy union, the romantic, the beautiful and the 
sublime. These buildings are purposely fitted up 
for the reception of the company which visit the 
place ; and except a few belonging to persons of 
fortune, who make it their residence through the 
year, are either wholly or in part, let to visitors. 
The number of houses in the village are about 
sixty. According to the census of the year 1821, 
the whole parish of Great Malvern contained 313 
houses, the number of inhabitants was 1568, of 
whom 750 were males, and 818 females. This vil- 
lage owes it's origin to a hermitage or priory 
founded here about the year 1083. The present 
Church, according to ancient records, belonged 
to the priory or abbey, and is still called the Abbey- 



GREAT MALVERN VILLAGE. 29 



Church. In the church-yard, and also near the 
centre of the village, are two ancient crosses, the 
shaft of each is formed of one stone. That in the 
church-yard is 12 feet from the base. Upon the 
top is a modern sun-dial surmounted with a ball. 
Upon the side nearly opposite the walk to the 
church is a niche which contained an image, pro- 
bably of the Virgin Mary, there being steps around 
whereon the devotee might kneel. The ancient 
Gateway belonging to the priory, adds much in- 
terest to the place. From the grand entrance to the 
Library, extending to the end of the village, is an 
excellent walk partially shaded by old elm trees, 
constituting a charming prominade. 

At the Inns and Boarding-Houses are very 
excellent accommodations, with great attention and 
civility ; nor will the visitor, who prefers private 
lodgings, find any want of comfort or convenience. 
Although no regular market is established here, 
there is an abundant supply of everything that can 
be required. The butcher's meat, particularly the 
mountain mutton, is excellent. Poultry, butter, 
eggs and vegetables, in great abundance, are reg- 
ularly brought into the village, every morning, 
from the adjacent farms, and sold at the doors at 
moderate prices. Here are also to be found good 
milliner's, haberdasher's, and grocer's shops. 

At the Library the company may be supplied 
with stationery, perfumery ; books, of every de- 
scription, either for instruction or amusement ; 
toys, views of the church, gateway, and sketches 
of the varied scenery in the neighbourhood. Mr. 
Southall, the proprietor of the library, gives instruc- 



GREAT MALVERN VILLAGE, 



tions in music, of whom piano-fortes and a great 
variety of popular music may be bought or hired. 

In the venerable and spacious Church, every ac- 
commodation is given to visitors, and the service is 
rendered more than usually interesting by the 
impressive manner in which it is performed by the 
Rev. Dr. Card, vicar. The service commences at 
eleven in the morning, and in the afternoon at three. 

Invalids resorting to this place will be much grat- 
ified in being informed that a Physician of great 
eminence is become resident of Melton House,™ 
where he intends to continue, and exercise his pro- 
fession. 

To pass unnoticed the admirable situation in 
which the village stands would be unpardonable ; 
on one hand the towering majestic hills, almost 
hangs over it; and the interesting Church be- 
neath, exhibits, in it's architecture, a very beauti- 
ful example of the latest period of the pointed style. 
On the other hand, the soft extensive plain ap- 
pears a finished picture. And when we superadd 
the pleasing harvest scenes, which may here be 
viewed in their highest perfection, the prospect is 
highly gratifying to the eye, inspiring in the mind 
sentiments of benevolence to our fellow creatures, 
and gratitude towards the hand which seattereth 
such profusion of good. 

When these objects are joined with the salubrity 
of the air, the efficacy and purity of the waters, the 
charming romantic rides and walks upon the hills 
and in the vicinity of Malvern, they must neces- 
sarily cause this to be pronounced one of the most 
interesting places of fashionable resort in the king- 
dom. 



GREAT MALVERN VILLAGE. 31 



Happy, enchanting Village ! if thou know'st 
Thy own true Happiness. What precious gifts 
Do other regions boast, which are not thine ? 
Grateful with Israel's Seer, thou may'st exclaim, 
4 How bless'd, supremely bless'd, these breezy plains 
With every good for man ! How bless'd with fruits, 
Ripen'd by temperate suns, and fed with showers 
Sent by the favouring moon ! How richly bless'd 
With these o'ershadowing Mountains, lifting high 
Their hoary summits ; where unnumber'd flocks 
Range free to pasture ; and whence softly flow 
Streams, salutary streams to bless mankind.' 
Look, thou inhabitant of Malvern, round, 
Westward, or north, or south, or where yon east 
Blazes with solar glory; look, and praise 
Nature's beneficient Almighty Lord, 
Whose hand a scene, so beauteous could create, 
Whose goodness made a scene so beauteous thine. 

DR. BOOKER'S MALVERN, 



ON THE DIFFERENT WELLS, 

AND MEDICINAL PROPERTIES OF THE MALVERN WATERS. 



There is no spring taking it's rise in the Malvern 
Range, which is not found to be impregnated, in 
a greater or lesser degree, with the minerals which 
these hills contain. Several of the springs or wells 
are found very efficacious in different diseases, but as 
three are principally used, we shall give only a des- 
cription of them, and their medicinal properties. 



THE CHALYBEATE SPRING 

is situated about four hundred yards to the east of 
the Church. To arrive at it, go down Paradise- 
row, 78 pass the church yard to the turnpike. You 
then find a carriage-road on your right hand, which 
leads to this valuable sanative spring, the healing 
virtues of which has diffused the blessing of health 
to many an invalid, as very recent cases bear testi- 
mony. Hitherto the spring has only been protected 
by a slight railing, but that indefatigable friend, 
patron, and benefactor, to Malvern, (of whom the 
author, through many a grateful remembrance will 
be led frequently to refer to in the progress of this 
work,) General Buchanan, in conjunction with the 
proprietor of the land, finding the spring through 



WELLS. S3 



various causes verymuch weakened, have had many 
sluices cut to ascertain in what part the strongest 
ferruginous matter lies; the whole piece of ground 
adjoining the original spring being highly impreg- 
nated with the Chalybeate property. When this 
has been ascertained, which is to be done without 
delay, Mr. Mason, to whom the land belongs, is, 
with great liberality, going to erect a building every 
way suitable to the use of the water, and intends 
to expend a very considerable sum in making three 
other approaches to the spring. General Buchanan 
has marked out, and already begun, many very 
beautiful walks in the grounds, near the intended 
Well-House, and added another fine feature to the 
scenery, by clearing and improving a piece of water 
adjacent to the walks, which is bordered by some 
very fine trees. These cooling shades, will, during 
the summer months, afford comfort and pleasure 
to the company who visit Malvern, and add very 
much to the improvement and beauty of the place. 
These ideas are far from being merely conjectural, 
since much ground has been purchased and laid 
out for the purpose of building several houses; 
some of them will be at a very short distance 
from the Chalybeate spring. 

Dr. John Wall, who wrote on the virtues of the 
Malvern waters about the middle of the last cen- 
tury, observes that the Chalybeate spring nearly 
approaches to the Holy-well, in point of purity, 
for two quarts of this water, contain only one grain 
of earth, one grain of iron, and nearly the same 
quantity of muriatic salt, which grows moist in the 
air, and therefore appears to be Bittern, on which 



34 WELLS. 



account it seems to challenge one of the first places 
among waters of this class. For though it be not 
so highly impregnated with iron, as some others, 
yet it is sufficiently so to answer what is expected 
from a Chalybeate ; and being much less loaded 
with earth than any other, it is probable that the 
ferruginous particles, do, on that account, more 
readily and intimately mix with the blood and jui- 
ces, while the water, by it's extreme purity, per- 
vading the finest vessels, washes away the acrimo- 
nious salts and obstructing viscidities. From the 
most accurate analysis, it appears, that at the spring 
head, Pauhon Spa waters contain four times more 
of the chalybeate principle than this spring, but are 
loaded with four times more earth. Tunbridge wa- 
ter contains three times more iron, but has six times 
more earth. Cheltenham and Scarborough waters 
have only the same quantity of iron, but are much 
loaded with earth. Cheltenham, in particular, con- 
tains eighty-eight times more than this spring ; and, 
to instance no more, Bath waters have nine times 
less of the chalybeate principle, but twenty-eight 
times more of the insoluble matter. 

To have this water in perfection, it must be drank 
at the source,. From it's extreme lightness and 
purity, it sits easy and passes well off the stomach, 
nor is it apt to heat the blood or to affect the head 
so much as other waters usually do, hence it has of- 
ten been eminently serviceable when the common 
Chalybeate springs were of little use. 



WELLS. 35 



rssrw* 



THE HOLY WELL. 

fountain of health ! in annals of old time, 
Named holy. Ever, ever, could I stray 
Beside thy stream, thou purest spring that flows ! 
Climb each bold eminence, and daily find 
Some object new for wonder ; ever gaze 
On the wide scene around me, and regale, 
"When thirst demands or pleasing taste invites, 
At thy clear rill, that sparkles at my foot, 
And think it luxury. 

DR. BOOKER'S MALVERN*. 

This well is distant two miles southward from 
the village of Great Malvern. In approaching it, 
the visitor must go along the Hereford mail-road, 
as far as Essington's Hotel, which he leaves on the 
left and ascends a steep hill leading to the Rock- 
house and the Well. The spring rises upon the 
eastern side of the hill, the Holy- well is inshrined 
in an appropriate building, consisting of a bath, 
and several apartments well adapted to the pur- 
poses to which the water is applied. The Well- 
house is situated as much below the crest of the 
hill, as above the valley beneath. Whence it de- 
rived the appellation of holy is not certainly 
known. Tradition says, it was anciently in great 
repute, and the virtues of the water were ascribed 
to supernatural agency, and therefore was digni- 
fied with the epithet holy. 



36 WELLS. 



ST. ANN'S WELL. 

Hail ! hallow'd Fount ! that in thy friendly course 

Health to the sick and solace to the swain 

Dispensest freely ! thy limpid wave 

I seek, for inspiration in my theme, 

Malvern — by thee enrich'd and made to please. 

DR. BOOKER'S MALVERN. 

St. Ann's- Well is situated a short distance from 
the village, on the northern side of the Worcester- 
shire Beacon, and rises from the hill immediately 
above Bannister's cottage. 32 Two ways lead to it, 
one being nearly opposite the Library, at the end of 
which road, turning to your left, you proceed, hav- 
ing the Shrubbery House and grounds on your 
right, with the back of the Belle Vue and Crown 
Hotels on your left, which brings you to the foot of 
two roads leading to the well. The other way is 
a few paces from the Crown Hotel ; to the south of 
which you find some easy steps by the side of the 
Parks, the elegant seat of the Misses West. As- 
cending, you leave Bannister's Cottage, keeping the 
hills to the left. You thus reach the two roads, one 
a steep straight ascent, the other a zig-zag sinuous 
way, upon which there are seats, at comfortable dis- 
tances, the feet being conducted up the ascent by 
easy pleasant stages, and the eye delighted all the 
way with the lovely prospects which present them- 
selves. Passing a cottage on the right, at a short 
distance, you descry the well, protected by a small 
building, the female inhabitant of which, is always 
particularly neat and clean, and with great civility, 



WELLS. 37 



attends you with glasses to drink the water, or to 
assist you at the spout for the affected part to re- 
ceive the healing element. No demand is made, 
all remuneration being left to the generosity of the 
visitant. 

The component parts of the water, flowing from 
this, and the Holy Well, are the same, differing only 
in their respective quantities ; a difference, perhaps, 
arising from the temperature of the seasons when 
they were analyzed. For is it not probable that all 
mineral waters are different at different times, ac- 
cording as more or less rain may descend to the 
source, through the impregnating medium ? Wheth- 
er, however, the impregnating bodies of these 
springs do actually differ, as to quantity, is of little 
moment, so long as they are both found to procure 
extraordinary effects. Here our own recent expe- 
rience proclaims their praise, or rather the praise 
of that beneficient Being, who communicated to 
them their sanative power ; a cloud of witnesses, 
and many of them living ones, can be adduced to 
prove the wonderful cures effected by these waters. 
The particulars of very many recent cases may be 
known at the Library. 

The complaints in which these waters are pecu- 
liarly efficacious, are scrofula, in every form ; all 
eruptive and cutaneous diseases. Great benefit has 
been derived from them in diseases of the kidneys 
and gravel. This place is also highly recommend- 
ed by eminent physicians in London, in consump- 
tive and nervous cases, on account of the salubrity 
of the air and extreme purity of the water, tending 
greatly towards accelerating their recovery. 



38 WELLS. 



To Dr. John Wall, late of Worcester, the pub- 
lic are much indebted for his analysis and remarks 
on the Malvern waters, and to the further experi- 
ments of his son, Dr. Martin Wall, of Oxford. Dr. 
Martin Wall republished seventy-six cases of the 
efficacy of the waters in various complaints, from his 
father's book. Dr. Johnstone, an eminent physi- 
cian, who also resided at Worcester, made several 
experiments on the Malvern waters ; and although 
the results did not agree, in every instance, with his 
predecessor's, they yet confirm their great efficacy 
in scrofulous and other cases. 

But to Dr. Wilson Philip, a physician of no less 
eminence, lately residing in Worcester, but now of 
London, we are indebted for an analysis, the result 
of laborious and patient investigation, far exceed- 
ing every other in chemical accuracy. He appears, 
after upwards of seventy judicious experiments, to 
have proved satisfactorily, that the Holy Well, and 
St. Ann's Well, are impregnated with certain ac- 
tive ingredients, to which their wonderful effects 
may be attributed. The following extracts are 
from bis book, published in 1815. 

" These waters have been loug celebrated for 
their purity, and to this alone their effects have been 
generally ascribed. From the following analysis, 
however, it would appear this opinion is erroneous, 
and that their good effects, as iu the case of other 
mineral waters, arise chiefly from the foreign ingre- 
dients they contain. 

" This will hardly be doubted, if it can be shewn 
that they contain substances which have long been 
celebrated medicines in the same disease^ in which 



WELLS. 39 

yvr r^- r+*^r #vr *s* r* 

the effects of the Malvern waters are so strikingly 
beneficial. That they contain but a small quantity 
of such substances, is no argument against this opi- 
nion. We well know that the effects of medicines 
are not in proportion to the dose merely. How 
many chalybeate springs, which contain but a small 
quantity of iron, are more efficacious in restoring 
vigour than the most powerful artificial chalybeates. 

" Yet we know that the effects of such waters 
depend on the iron they contain ; because, when 
deprived of it, they lose, at the same time, their in- 
vigorating quality. Whether the same quantity of 
pure water would produce the same good effects, 
independently of the other ingredients of such wa- 
ters, we cannot tell ; most probably it would not. 
But when we reflect on the intimate union which 
takes place between bodies, when one exists in very 
great and the other in very small quantity, of which 
a thousand instances might be enumerated, we have 
reason to suppose that the effects of many mineral 
waters depend on this intimate union ; by which, 
perhaps, a greater quantity of this medicine is re- 
ceived in a state more capable of producing it's pe- 
culiar effects, than when it is taken into the stomach 
and bowels in a more concentrated form." 

The following are the contents of a gallon of the 
Holy Well water, according to the analysis of Dr. 
Wilson Philip. 

grs. 

Carbonate of Soda, 5.33 

Carbonate of Lime, 1 .6 

Carbonate of Magnesia, 0.9 J 99 

Carbonate of Iron, 0.625 

Sulphat of Soda, 2.896 

Muriat of Soda, 1.553 

Residuum, 1.687 



40 WELLS. 

The following are the contents of the water of 
St. Ann's Well, the same quantity, namely, a gallon. 



grs. 

Carbonate of Soda, 3.55 

Carbonate of Lime, 0.352 

Carbonate of Magnesia, 0.26 

Carbonate of Iron, 0.328 

Sulphat of Soda 1 .48 

Muriat of Soda, 0.955 

Residuum, 0.47 

It appears from this analysis that the properties 
of the Malvern waters are peculiarly different from 
the other celebrated waters in this kingdom, and 
agree with several of those of the Continent, as may 
be perceived from the following table of the solid 
contents of a gallon of the Malvern and Spa wa- 
ters, according to Bergman's analysis of the latter, 
reduced to the English measure, by Dr. Saunders. 

HOLY WELL. ST. ANN'S WELL. SPA. 

grs. grs. grs. 

Soda, combined with fixed air, 5.33 3.55 11.76 




Lime, combined with fixed air, 
i. e. chalk. 

Magnesia, combined with fixed j Q gigg fi 

air, i. e. uncalcined magnesia, 3 

Calx of Iron combined with fix- 
ed air, i. e. rust of iron. 

Glauber Salt, 2 896 1.48 

Common Salt, 1.553 0.955 1.376 



\ 



1.6 0.352 11.76 



0.625 0.328 5.86 



It appears from the foregoing table, that the sol- 
id contents of the Malvern and Spa waters differ 
only in there being no Glauber Salts in the latter. 
Whether the Malvern waters would be found of 
use in the various cases in which the Spa waters is 
so celebrated, cannot be determined, sufficient trials 
having not been made. In estimating the probable 
effects of a mineral water, we must not attend 



WELLS. 41 



so much to the mass of it's solid contents, as to 
their activity. Iron and Soda are among the most 
active of the ingredients found in mineral waters ; 
to them we may ascribe the good appetite and spir- 
its which attend the use of the Malvern waters, 
aided by the delightful situation and salubrious air 
of this district. 

The most sensible effects of the Malvern waters, 
is that of a diuretic, which we cannot hesitate to as- 
cribe to the carbonate of soda, which has long been 
used in medicine for the purpose of producing this 
effect, and such is the relief often obtained by these 
waters in the gravel, that Dr. Wall thought they 
possessed the power of dissolving urinary concre- 
tions. " It is perhaps too much to expect," he says, 
" that a formed stone can be dissolved by this water, 
but that sabulous matter may, I am fully convinced 
from the effect I have observed in those who have 
used it." 

In eruptive cases, cutaneous diseases, and in 
scrofula and scrofulous debility, their effects are 
more beneficial than those of any other mineral wa- 
ter of this country, as can be proved from numer- 
ous cases which have come immediately under my 
observation. 

It is necessary to observe, that mineral waters, 
like other medicinal substances, are efficacious 
in certain diseases only ; and I would suggest the 
propriety of consulting some professional man, 
whose judgment may determine how far the water 
is adapted to each individual case, and in what 
manner it should be employed so as to render it 
efficacious. 

4 



42 WELLS. 



There is a peculiar advantage attending the Mal- 
vern waters; namely, that wherever their use can 
be of service, they may be entered on immediately, 
without any previous preparation. The sensible 
effects of these waters are different in various cases, 
and they are generally most felt on first using. It 
is not uncommon for them to produce a nausea and 
afterwards to prove aperient. In many cases they 
produce a contrary effect on the bowels, so that 
some aperient medicine is necessary. When they 
are drank copiously, particularly by those who are 
not accustomed to them, they frequently produce 
a slight determination of blood to the head, which 
appears from a sense of drowsiness, and some- 
times a little fulness, and even pain about the fore- 
head; but this speedily goes off, oris immediately 
removed by a walk or a ride, or any gentle exer- 
cise. Some sort of exercise is always necessary 
after taking the water, as it prevents that sense of 
nausea and oppression, which may arise from a 
quantity of fluid taken into a weak stomach. We 
would advise half a pint of water to be taken the 
first thing in the morning, while the stomach is emp- 
ty, and the same quantity half an hour afterwards, 
which may be increased according to circumstan- 
ces. But if the stomach should be in such a debil- 
itated state as to reject this quantity of water in 
the morning, which will often be the case, we 
would recommend it to be taken at night, as wa- 
ter gruel, or a glass might be taken at noon. If 
it should be preferred a little warm, the best meth- 
od is to put the water into a bottle closely corked, 
and to immerse the whole in hot water, for by this 



WELLS. 43 



means little of the air can escape. The water should, 
if possible, be always drank at the spring head, but 
if the constitution, or strength of the patient, will 
not admit of it, the water should be received into a 
stone bottle, closely stopped, to prevent the air from 
escaping and so conveyed to the patient. A trusty 
person, who can be depended on, should always be 
sent for the water. When children are sent, they 
often, through carelessness, neglect to cork the bot- 
tle, by which means, the fixed air evaporates. We 
have known many of them, to have even taken 
water from the first brook they have seen, instead 
of the well water. The woman at the Well House 
will, at any time, for a very small remuneration, 
send the water by one of her family, to any patient 
who may require it. 

The season for drinking these waters, is during 
the whole summer, and in the spring and autumn, 
in fact from March to December. But in scrofu- 
lous cases, the water should be used both internally 
and externally, throughout the year, without inter- 
mission, and by our own recent experience, it has 
been proved, that when the weather is severely 
cold, the best method is to warm the water in the 
manner before noticed, and the affected parts should 
be immersed in the water; but if that be impossi- 
ble, the sores should be constantly bathed with the 
water made milk warm. By this treatment, we 
have known the wounds heal very rapidly, though 
when applied cold, the water has had no visible ef- 
fect. When the water is first used, where there are 
sores, a slight fever is generally produced, and the 
parts become inflamed. In this case, the best meth- 



41 WELLS. 



od of treating the sores is to boil a turnip in the wa- 
ter, and when nearly cold, apply it in the form of 
a poultice ; but if turnips are not to be had, bread 
should be applied in the same manner; the patient, 
at the same time, drinking freely of the water. By 
this treatment, this adventitious heat goes off in a 
few days. These inflammatory appearances have 
been frequently known to alarm the patient so as 
to cause him to leave off using the waters altogeth- 
er, when if he had persevered in the use of them, 
we are confident, from our own knowledge and ex- 
perience, that they would in all human probability, 
have entirely eradicated the disorder. In all cases, 
patience and perseverance are necessary, but par- 
ticularly in scrofula. To effect a constitutional 
change in this disease, a continual use of the water, 
without any intermission, for two years, is required ; 
and in many constitutions a much longer time. 
Bathing the whole body in the water, and drink- 
ing freely from the spring head, if possible, are 
highly necessary, and a free admission of the waters 
upon the wounds, as it falls from the spout, should 
at least twice a day be resorted to. The patient 
should drink, when at the spring, as much of the 
water as his stomach will bear. 

" Of all the waters.'' says Dr. Scudamore, " which 
have come under my examination, these of Malvern 
claim the most regard for their purity, but when 
we consider, for a moment, the remarkably slight 
impregnation of each water, it becomes difficult to 
assign to them so large a share of medicinal power, 
as has been attributed to them. I am, however, 
most willing to admit, that, if a course of the wa- 



WELLS. 45 

■*+ r<+ * x -r*r r*r r~r +-r 

ter, from either spring be united with a plan of reg- 
ulated diet, both as regards the dinner meal and 
the use of wine, material benefit will be derived. I 
have, with success, advised the addition of tincture 
of ammoniatediron to the water, in graduated doses. 
Any class of medicines, which a particular case may 
require, will be perfectly compatible with the use 
of the water." 

Thus it appears, that " the springs of Malvern 
have proved an efficacious remedy for many ob- 
stinate and deplorable diseases, which have resisted 
the powers of the most useful and appropriate medi- 
cines; in scrofulous cases, in inveterate ulcers, 
and sores that have been called fistulous; in ob- 
structed and scirrhus glands, and some that ap- 
proached to the state of cancer ; in disorders of the 
eyes and eye-lids ; in nephritic complaints and dis- 
orders of the urinary passages; in cutaneous dis- 
eases; in coughs from scorbutic and scrofulous 
causes ; and in loss of appetite. Such is the testimo- 
ny of Drs. Wall and Philips, physicians of great 
celebrity, and unquestionable veracity. Their ev- 
idence has been confirmed by the successive ex- 
perience of some of the first of the profession; and 
I know, that at this day, (1805,) these springs are 
recommended as a dernier resort, in the most de- 
plorable cases, by Sir Francis Millman, one of the 
most eminent physicians of the metropolis. But 
the most careful analysis has not been able to detect, 
in the Malvern water, any active ingredient what- 
ever, to which medicinal powers can be ascribed ; 
it is no more than the uncontaminated element, 
nearly approaching to the purity of distilled water. 



46 WELLS. 



■**+*•****•+*■*>* *^r 



As it is, therefore, absolutely destitute of all proper 
and peculiar medicinal powers, the benefit derived 
from it's use can be attributed to no other cause, 
than to the cessation of the constant and habitual 
application of noxious matter, contained in the wa- 
ter of common springs. When the morbific force 
is removed, the innate powers of the system are 
developed and become active, and thus is the body 
gradually restored to the actions and sensations of 
health. The medicinal powers of springs, remark- 
able only for their purity, have been observed also 
upon the continent. At Schleusengen, a town in 
Hennebergh, a principality of Franconia, are such 
waters, famed for their utility in chronic diseases, 
particularly in calculous complaints, in arthritic, 
rheumatic, and scorbutic affections, and in cases of 
muscular debility. Near Osterode, a mine town, 
in the Hercynian forest, is a fountain of great cel- 
ebrity, in which not a particle of mineral ingredi- 
ents can be detected. Within two miles of Halle, 
at Lebeg, a spring rises out of the rocks, the water of 
which is pure and imputrescible. A beer is made 
of this water, which is used as a medicine, of great ef- 
ficacy in nephritic cases, and in inflammatory habits. 
Some springs, formed by the melting of the snow 
upon the Rhoetian Alps, have been found to possess 
similar virtues. At Pisa, Tettucia, and Nocera, in 
Italy, there are also medicinal springs of great cel- 
ebrity, which, like our Malvern wells, are destitute 
of all active ingredients." — Hoffmani Opera,' torn. 
v. pa. 206. fol. Genev. 1740. — Dr. Lambe on Con- 
stitutional Diseases, p. 35, Lond. 1805. 

" This is certain, the salubrious air of Malvern, 



WELXS. 4T 



^s^^srysrx^^x^^ 1 ^^ 



and the peaceful sensations which the quiet and 
charming retirement of the spotinspires, contribute, 
in the greatest degree, to strengthen the body, to 
calm the mind, and thus promote general health. 
It is from such a conviction that I have advised the 
Cheltenham invalid to repair to this favoured situ- 
ation, at a certain period, after the use of the ape- 
rient alterative waters." — Dr. Seudamore. 

Early rising, and a salutary degree of exercise, 
either pedestrian or equestrian, previous to the use 
of the water, and for some time afterwards, must al- 
ways form a principal part of the regimen of con- 
valescence; for by this means they will add to the 
circulation of the blood, not only by the mechani- 
cal effects of the exercise, but also by the inhalation 
of a greater quantity of the pure atmospheric oxy- 
gen, which will give considerable assistance to the 
waters in their beneficial process. This will be at- 
tended with other good effects, for as Mr. Barrett 
observes, « the air which they will breathe, in these 
walks and rides, and, indeed, in every part of the 
Malvern Hills, is so very refreshing, as to have a 
great tendency to create an appetite, and to revive 
the spirits :" and this pure atmosphere seems to ex- 
tend it's stimulating influence to the surrounding 
country, which is very seldom visited by epidemic 
disease. 

" Too much care," says Dr. J. Wall, " cannot be 
taken by those who send for the water from the 
wells, that their bottles be perfectly clean ; since it is 
known to dissolve impure substances which adhere 
to the inside of vessels, that common water will not 
affect. Tea-kettles, which have become incrusted 



48 WELLS. 



with earthy particles, may be perfectly cleansed 
by boiling these pure waters in them." Dr. Wilson 
Philip observes, that the effect of the purest com- 
mon water in removing this crust is trifling compar- 
ed with that of the Holy- Well water. This crust 
is sulphat of lime, upon which the Malvern waters 
possessing carbonat of fixed alkali, act as a dissolv- 
ent. On this account, clothes may be washed in 
this water with less soap than any other. It's su- 
periority in culinary uses, as in making tea or malt 
liquor is remarkable. 

O comfortable Streams ! with eager lips 
And trembling hand, the languid thirsty, quaff 
New life in you ; fresh vigour fills their veins, 

ARMSTRONG. 



49 



THE PRIORY 

OF 

GREAT MALVERN. 

Historical records agree that Malvern is a place 
of great antiquity, and has long been celebrated in 
ecclesiastical history ; and that it contained an Her- 
mitage, or Priory, which according to Thomas, 
who wrote an account of its antiquities and church 
in Latin, (temp. Jac. 1.) was founded here "in 
the wild foreste," anterior to the Norman invasion. 
This establishment was for seculars. Our author 
states, that Urso D' Abitot, or D' Abot, a Norman 
baron, who possessed considerable estates in this 
county, was the founder. In this, Thomas has 
been contradicted, there being no mention of D' 
Abitot's name in either of the two charters granted 
to the Priory by King Henry the first. If not the 
founder, however, it is very evident that Urso was 
a benefactor, very soon after the conquest. A ra- 
ther curious grant being extant, made by him to the 
Malvern brotherhood (vide Nash's History of Wor- 
cestershire, vol. 2d, page 266, note) to which a- 
mong the witnesses is Athelisa, vicecomitissa, the 
Sheriff's lady, his own wife. That some kind of a 
religious house was founded here, prior to the con- 
quest, is apparent, from a charter of Henry the first, 
referred to in Dugdale's Monasticon, which states 
that it was endowed by King Edward the confessor. 



50 PRIORY, 



Tanner says, " that Great Malvern was a place 
of great antiquity ; for here in the wild forest, was 
an hermitage or some kind of religious house for 
seculars, before the conquest, endowed by the gift 
of Edward the Confessor, as it is stated more than 
once, in the second charter of King Henry 1st, 
recorded in the Monast. Anglic, vol. 1, p. 366. 
about 1083. A somewhat different account of this 
foundation has been given by Dr. Nash, in his His- 
tory of Worcestershire, viz. " Before the conquest, 
Malvern was a wilderness, thick set with trees ; 
and some monks, who aspired to greater sanctity, 
retired thither from the priory of Worcester, and 
became hermits. The enthusiasm spread so rapid- 
ly, that their number soon increased to three hun- 
dred ; when forming themselves into a society, 
they agreed to live according to the order of St. 
Benedict, and elected Aldwin, one of their com- 
pany, to be superior." Mr. Neal in his "Views of 
Collegiate and Parochial Churches," says, " Nash 
refers to William of Malmsbury as his authority for 
this statement, but in respect to the numbers of 
brethren congregated under Aldwin or Aldewine, 
he is incorrect, Malmsbury's being Usque ad Iri- 
cenarium numerum, that is thirty, and not ire- 
cenarium, or three hundred." He was probably 
misled by Habyngdon, the author of an account of 
this Priory, which was dedicated to Queen Eliza- 
beth, and printed in 1596, and in which, Habyng- 
don has fallen into the same mistake. In the 
" Annal. Wigorwiensis," Aldwin is expressly cal- 
led the founder ; from the circumstance, as Ha- 
byngdon rationally conjectures, of bis having beg- 



PRIORY. 51 



ged the charity of others as much as perfected the 
foundation of this priory, dedicated to the Virgin 
Mary, and some say to St. Michael. " That there 
was a chapel dedicated," as tradition says, " to St. 
Michael, with a residence for some seculars, on the 
scite where a small cottage now stands, in which a 
Mr. Banister now resides, appears evident as the 
cottage is erected on part of the walls of the chap- 
el. In many places of this cottage, are the same 
kind of curiously inscribed tiles, as those which 
formed part of the pavement of the ancient church. 
Very many of the same kind of tiles have been fre- 
quently dug up out of that part converted into a 
garden. The chimney-piece in the house, is form- 
ed out of a fine stone with mouldings, and has 
every appearance of having been some part of the 
chapel. It is equally evident that the orchard 
belonging to the same cottage, was a burial- 
ground, from the coffin-furniture and bones which 
are constantly found when it is ploughed up. 
A large Wall has been recently discovered, which 
inclosed the ground; the place being upon a 
declivity, the earth gave way, by which means the 
foundation of the wall was laid open to view. As a 
further proof that it was a cell or hermitage for an- 
chorites, the ancient writings of the house refer to it 
as " The Hermitage," by which name it is still 
known. The proprietor, in removing the earth 
behind the cottage, found a number of earthen- 
pipes curiously constructed, so as to slide one into 
another, evidently for the purpose of conveying 
the water from St. Ann's Well to the hermitage. 
Many of them are in his possession. 



52 PRIORY. 



Aldwin appears to have been one of the anchor- 
ites at Malvern ; and about the year 1083, he was 
persuaded by St. Wolstan, Bishop of Worcester, 
to become a benedictine monk, instead of going on 
a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, as he had previously in- 
tended. The bishop assured him, that his place at 
Malvern would be wonderfully favoured by God. 
These predictions he is said to have lived to see ful- 
filled in a very considerable degree. The benefac- 
tions which he obtained, enabled him to found a pri- 
ory and Church for thirty monks, in honour of the 
Virgin Mary. Thus was this monastery founded in 
the year 1083, in the 18th of William the Conqueror, 
who was a benefactor to this order of benedictines. 
One of the principal benefactors was Gislebertus 
Crispinus, abbot of Westminster ; who, with the 
consent of his convent, assigned several estates 
and manors to the new foundation ; stipulating, as 
it should seem, that the future patronage of the 
priory should belong to his own establishment. 
Hence the abbots of Westminster always claimed 
the approval and confirmation of the priors of Mal- 
vern ; though it was not without many disputes 
that they maintained their privileges ; Malvern, 
therefore, was regarded as a subordinate cell to the 
Abbey Church of Westminster, and the Dean and 
Chapter have lands in it's vicinity at this time. 

Henry the first was a considerable donor to this 
priory, besides confirming all former grants by his 
charter, dated in 1 127. He bestowed various lands 
upon it's inmates ; particularly Quat and Fuleford, 
in Shropshire ; and Hathfield, in Herefordshire. 



PRIORY. 53 



Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Gloucester, lord of the 
forest, contributed largely to the revenues of this 
house. Osborne and Richard Fitzpontz or De 
Pontibus, were likewise considerable benefactors. 

Wolstan, prior of Worcester, with consent of his 
convent, gave to the church of Great Malvern, 
sundry lands in Powick, Braunceford, and Leigh. 

The Church of Upton-Snodsbury, was appropri- 
ated to the priory of Great Malvern by Henry 
Wakefield, about the year 1392. The prior and 
convent were likewise lords of Knightwick, which 
manor they assigned over to Godfrey Giffard, Bish- 
op of Worcester, with consent of King Edward, 
son of Henry. This conveyance was made by 
King Edward, in order to terminate a dispute 
which had long and violently subsisted between 
Richard Ware, abbot of Westminster, and Godfrey 
Giffard, concerning the subordination of the pri- 
ory of Malvern. The litigation was at length set- 
tled thus ; that the Bishop should have Knightwick, 
and that the Priory should be subordinate to West- 
minster. Before the church of Powick had been 
appropriated to the priory of Great Malvern, they 
had the manor of Canterbauhhan, and the parish 
church of Laugh Mayn, in the diocese of St. David, 
together with a prebend stall in the said church, 
the manor of Foleford in the diocese of Litchfield 
and Coventry, and the parish church of Pichetote 
(Pitchcot) in Lincoln diocese ; all which had been 
taken from them, so that they could hardly sup- 
port their number of monks, which was twenty-six, 
together with thirty poor people whom they con- 
stantly maintained. 



54 PRIORY. 



In 1159, William Burdet gave to God and St. 
Mary, of Malvern, and to the monks serving God 
there, all the land he had in Aucott, in Warwick- 
shire, with the mill, &c. and other possessions, for 
the foundation of a Cell for four monks. Another 
Cell subordinate to Malvern, was afterwards found- 
ed at Brockbury, in the parish of Colwall, in Here- 
fordshire. 

Bishop Latimer, about the period of the dissolu- 
tion, petitioned that two or three religious houses 
in each county, and in particular that of Great 
Malvern, might remain, and their revenues be ap- 
plied to the purposes of education ; but this was 
overruled by the cupidity of Henry the 8th's coun- 
sellors. When the Priory was dissolved, the value 
of it's possessions was estimated, according to Dug- 
dale, at 308Z. Is. 5~d. ; and according to Speed, it 
was31 51. Qs.6d. In the thirty-sixth of Henry 8th, the 
priory demesne was granted to Wm. Pinnock, who 
transferred it to John Knotesford, sergeant at arms, 
by whose descendants it was sold to James Oliver 
of the city of Worcester, about the year 1774. 
Queen Elizabeth, in her thirty-first year, granted 
to Richard Brathewayte and Roger Bromley and 
their heirs, all the tithes of lambs, pigs, calves, 
eggs, hemp and flax, and the oblations of the pa- 
rish, and of the chapel of St. Leonard, on condi- 
tion of their paying £8 yearly to the vicar, and 
8s. 2d. to the archdeacon of Worcester, in respect 
of a synodal and procuration issuing out of the 
said tithes. 

The Priory Gate-Way still remains in tolerable 
preservation ; together with an ancient and some- 



PRIORY. 55 



what curious wooden edifice, supposed to have 
been the refectory and audit-hall. From this it 
would appear, that the monastery was, in part, at 
least, constructed of wood; a circumstance very 
rarely occurring in monastic establishments. Mr. 
Bellers of the Fold, is the present occupier of this 
ancient remain, and has converted it into a barn 
and stable, but it will still be found worth the at- 
tention of the antiquary. 



56 



THE ABBEY CHURCH 

OF 

GREAT MALVERN. 



Hail ! time-worn Structure ! happily transform'd 
From what thou wert. How solemn ! how august ! 
As should be House of God and Gate of Heaven ! 
The soul thou fill'st with reverential awe. 

DR. BOOKER'S MALVERN. 

The Church is a large and spacious structure 
built in the form of a cross, having* a lofty tower 
rising from the intersection of the nave and tran- 
sept. Formerly, two chapels were attached to it, 
which have been destroyed ; viz. one at the eastern 
end, consecrated to the Virgin Mary ; and another 
on the southern side. From many points of view, 
this magnificent fabric is seen to great advantage, 
but particularly from the north. The tower which 
rises from the centre to the elevation of 124 feet, 
is finely ornamented with pierced battlements and 
corresponding pinnacles of a peculiar construction. 
Elegant tracery adorns the windows, and the open 
work of the embattlements, westward from the 
transept, gives an agreeable lightness to the upper 
part of the walls. 

The more ancient parts of the Church, which are 
principally confined to the massive columns and 



CHURCH. 57 



arches of i he nave, are of early Norman architec- 
ture, and, no doubt, coeval with the Priory ; but 
the rest of the building is in the pointed style of 
Heury the seventh's time. That munificent patron 
of the fine arts, Sir Reginald Bray, K. G. a native 
of Worcester, was the architect ; and under his su- 
perintendence the church assumed that appearance 
and character which still render it the admiration 
of beholders, who, from it's magnificent remains, 
may conceive an idea of it's pristine beauty. The 
Lichfield Manuscript informs us, that the situation 
of Malvern was so much admired by Henry the 
seventh, his Queen, and their two sons, Prince Ar- 
thur and Prince Henry, that they were induced to 
beautify the church with stained glass windows, to 
a degree of magnificence, which made it one of the 
proudest ornaments of the nation. "These win- 
dows," says the M. s. " form a mirror, wherein 
we may see how to believe, to live, and to die." 
After the conveyance of the priory demesne, to 
John Knotesford, Esq. as before mentioned, the 
church was purchased from him by the inhabitants 
of Malvern, for £200, and made parochial. The 
Patron of the living is Edward Foley, Esq. of 
Stoke Edith Park, Herefordshire. During the 
lapse of time, and through the culpable neglect of 
those who should have attended to it's preservation, 
this interesting pile became greatly dilapidated ; 
and about the year 1788, it was in such a ruinous 
state, that it could not be used with either conve- 
nience or safety : the roof admitted much water ; 
the seats had become mouldy and decayed ; the 
walls and floor dreadfully damp, (for some parts 
5 



68 CHURCH. 



of the church were subject to be flooded,) and the 
ivy allowed to pierce through the broken win- 
dows, and to cover a large portion of the eastern 
end of the fabric. In this deserted state it re- 
mained till the year 1812, when a large sum, raised 
by a subscription, among the nobility, and gentry 
of the surrounding country, was expended in a 
very injudicious manner, and this noble edifice re- 
ceived but a very partial repair : the roof indeed 
was made whole, and the ceiling was restored to 
cleanliness ; but ruin and devastation, rubbish and 
lumber, still remained below. The church conti- 
nued in this state till the year 1816 ; but in the in- 
termediate time, from 1812, that indefatigable and 
truly pious Lady Apphia Baroness Lyttelton, made 
another effort towards further repair, but the sum 
subscribed being too small to accomplish what her 
ladyship proposed, nothing was done. The money 
was afterwards applied to the use of the church, 
when in a propitious hour, in 1815, the Rev. Dr. 
Card was inducted to the vicarage, and the compil- 
er is highly gratified in recording, that through his 
activity and zeal, a further subscription was ob- 
tained, and the church, within four months, was 
placed in a complete state of reparation and im- 
provement. These exertions justly distinguish him 
as " The Restorer of Malvern Church." Such 
was his anxiety to bring back this ancient edifice to 
something like it's original dignified and magnificent 
character, that at one period he had advanced a 
a large sum from his private purse without know- 
ing how he was to be repaid. 

The interior of the Church has a neat and im- 



CHURCH. 59 



pressive character, and the magnificence and spa- 
ciousness of the building strike fully on the mind, 
especially when contrasted with the small size of 
the village. It's length is 173 feet, it's breadth 63 
feet, the height of the nave is 63 feet. When the 
sun's rays stream through the rich tints of it's co- 
loured glass, the effect is very fine ; particularly 
on the fourth window, upon the northern side of 
the nave, the delineations on the glass being very 
striking. The nave is very neatly pewed, and an 
enlargement is now taking place, by which 300 
additional sittings will be obtained, of which, 200 
are free and unappropriated. Dr. Card having 
made application for assistance to the Society 
for promoting the enlargement of Churches and 
Chapels, has obtained a grant of £200 towards this 
accommodation, by which means he has been ena- 
bled to improve the church very much. The Royal 
Arms by the side of the arch that leads to the nave 
was gratuitously painted by the late Mr. Solaway, 
a resident of Malvern ; this piece is highly finish- 
ed, and does credit to the artist. 

An ancient inscribed Tile, fixed in the cylindri- 
cal pillar on the left, has much attracted the atten- 
tion of antiquarians, and been the subject of some 
disquisition. It is unlike any of the numerous tiles 
which abound in this church ; upon many of which 
the armorial bearings of divers benefactors are re- 
presented. This, however, bears no ornamental 
device, but simply a rhyming inscription, in eight 
lines in the old English character. 



60 CHURCH, 



tfjcnke.mon.pi.iiffc. 

mat.not.eu.enmtre. 

patpofo.oogt.pi.tfcif. 

of.patpoto.art.gttre. 

but.pat.poto.fcqptjSt 

an.to.pi.srctitr.curc. 

ano.cu.fjttabailci'e. 

fjtt-i£.btttatenttt«. 

The author of " Reflections relating to the Mal- 
vern Hills," decyphers it thus : 

« Think, man, thy life cannot for ever endure, 
that which thou dost thyself, of that thou art sure, 
but that which thou keepest (reservest) for the cure 
(office) of thy executors, or of thy successors, it is 
but a chance, if it ever shall avail thee, for it is un- 
certain whether it ever will be done." 

" It is probable," the author adds, " that this in- 
scription, which was repeated in so many parts of 
the Church, was intended to stimulate the readers 
to pious and charitable donations, which might avail 
them in another life ; and chiefly, perhaps, it was 
designed to excite them to benefactions in repair- 
ing and adorning this very church, so many in- 
stances of which are on record ; and to induce them 
to do this in their lives, instead of trusting it to the 
execution of their testaments by others." 

The Tile is about five inches and a quarter 
square, in superficial extent. Nash, in his account 
of Stanford, " Additions to History of Worces- 
tershire," p. 70, gives a fac-simile of one found 
there, which appears the same in shape and dimen- 
sions. " The Tile," he says, " is supposed to have 
belonged to the old church of Stanford. Under 



CHURCH. 61 

the fac-simile, are the words upon a tile, on the 
outside of Stanford church." But Nash, else- 
where, says, " the tile is in the possession of Sir 
Edward Winnington." It cannot now be found, 
but there is no doubt it agreed in size with the en- 
graving. The present Church at Stanford, was 
built about fifty years ago. It is not improbable 
that the tile might have been brought by some person 
to the old church, from Malvern. If not so, it is 
extraordinary that a tile with the same inscription 
should be found in a place so distant. Nash cop- 
ies kepist in the fifth line, "be just;" but if the 
word is intended for kepist, which there seems 
little reason to doubt, it is to an experienced anti- 
quary, in a letter to the late Mr. Stanhope, who 
for fifty-six years filled the situation of sexton and 
clerk, and died at the advanced age of 86, that the 
removal of this obscurity is owing, and to whom 
the compiler is obliged for a fac-simile, through 
a relative of the late Mr. Stanhope. The letter is 
signed I. S. and dated Nov. 28, 1814, from the 
Crown Hotel, Malvern. After noticing the in- 
scription, the writer observes, " Nash, in his His- 
tory of Worcester, in Stanford parish, gives an en- 
graving of a similar tile found there, but copies 
kepist in the fifth line, " be just," which is decid- 
edly an error. The Author of " Reflections relat- 
ing to the Malvern Hills," mistakes the same word 
for gevist; but in the specimen in the aisle of your 
venerable church, it is most evidently and uncon- 
trovertibly kepist. The two words ending the sixth 
line are difficult to decipher ; but the first certainly 
begins with an s, and not with an /, as supposed by 



62 CHURCH. 



the last quoted author. The date of the tiles about 
the choir is 1453, 36 Henry 6, &c. vide p. 37. It 
is not probable that these are more modern. 

In a handsome Gallery, the ornamental gothic 
appearance of which cannot fail to attract notice, 
is a good Organ, purchased by a subscription ob- 
tained through the exertions of the vicar, the or- 
ganist, and a few individuals who wished to have 
the assistance of that instrument in their devotions. 
On the front of the gallery are the arms of her late 
royal highness the Princess Charlotte of Wales, 
and those of his serene highness Prince Leopold, 
her husband, gratuitously painted by Mr. H. Cham- 
berlain, of Worcester. 

The pews of Earl Beauchamp, and Edward Fo- 
ley, Esq. are respectively ornamented in front with 
their armorial bearings. Over Mr. Foley's pew is 
an allegorical painting, representing the Law and 
the Gospel. This originally was part of the altar- 
piece, removed for the purpose of exhibiting more 
fully the great east window. 

On each side of the chancel are placed the ancient 
stalls of the monks ; the under parts, or sub-sella 
of which, exhibit various grotesque and other 
carvings in basso relievo. Among them are the 
following subjects, some of which have been rudely 
etched by the late John Carter, in the second 
volume of his « Ancient Sculpture and Painting." 
1. A man on his death bed, with a priest at his head, 
and a doctor at his feet ; to whom he is offering 
bags of wealth to secure their aid. 2, A monk 
driving away the devil with a pair of bellows. 3, 



CHURCH. 63 



A man with a bear, the animal sitting in an erect 
posture. 4, A sower of grain between two birds. 
5, A reaper with a scythe. 6, A gardener holding 
a staff and garden-hook, with plants by his side. 
7, A man with a basket of fruit on his right arm ; 
in his left hand he holds up a pine. 8, A man with 
a long stick, beating acorns from off an oak, with 
swine on each side of him. 9, Three rats, hanging 
a cat on each side an owl. 10, A male figure sus- 
taining a large goblet in each hand. 11, An an- 
gel playing on a cithern. 

The Altar-Piece consists of an entablature, 
supported by columns of the Ionic order ; in the 
pannels between which, the Lord's Prayer, the 
Creed, and the Commandments, are neatly painted. 

Most, if not all the Windows of this Church, 
were very richly embellished with painted glass, 
on which, numerous subjects from Scripture were 
represented : and likewise, the effigies of benefac- 
tors, with their arms on their surcoats. Though 
much of the glass has been destroyed, from culpa- 
ble neglect and wilful devastation, there is still 
sufficient remaining to attest it's original splendour ; 
but the different series of historical representations 
are in many instances incomplete, and only a few 
of the portraits now exist. 

In the sixteen lower compartments of the great 
east window, were the principal events of our Sa- 
viour's life and passion ; but nearly the whole has 
been broken : the entry into Jerusalem, however, 
is entire. In the upper divisions, are the twelve 



64 CHURCH. 



apostles, and other figures. In the first window 
from the east on the northern side, are certain 
images of saints, with this inscription : 

Ovale pro anima domini Johannis Malverne, 
qui istem fenestram fieri fecit. (He was prior in 
2435.) 

In the second window, are representations of 
Saints, and two Monks praying, with this inscrip- 
tion : 

Orate pro animabus Johannis West, et Thome 
Lye, monachis hujus loci. 

In the third window, are the Arms of Westmin- 
ster Abbey ; together with several transactions of 
the Monk Aldwin, relating to his procuring letters 
patent, for the foundation of this church, from 
Pope Gregory the seventh, and William the Con- 
queror. 

In the fourth window, the Crucifixion is repre- 
sented in three divisions : in the centre, is Jesus 
upon the cross ; on the right, is St. John the Evan- 
gelist and the Virgin Mary ; and on the left, the 
Centurion speaking to his soldiers. A Latin label 
going out of his mouth, may be translated, ** Truly 
the son of the all-powerful God/' 

In the fifth window, is a Seraph, a Cherub, and 
an Arch-angel. 

In the ninth window, is St. Peter, but greatly 
mutilated. 

In the great western window, was originally a 
representation of the Day of Judgment, said to 
have been not inferior, with respect to grandeur 
and boldness of design, to the paintings of Michael 
Angelo. The whole, however, was demolished 



CHURCH. 65 



•■**++**•*■+* 



by unruly, thoughtless boys, who, while the church 
remained in a dilapidated state, were suffered to 
throw stones at the beautiful figures delineated 
upon the glass. This circumstance awakened the 
remonstrances of an honest muse, that proved in- 
strumental in first drawing the attention of af- 
fluent piety, and antiquarian taste, to the dilapi- 
dated state of this venerable edifice, as well as of 
attracting the admiration of the public in general, 
to the sublime and varied charms of the surround- 
ing scenery. The muse here alluded to, is that of 
Dr. Booker, who, in a poem entitled « Malvern," 
says, 

What marvel, that a scene so rich, so fair, 
Should admiration, e'en in royal breasts 
Awaken ? Admiration, that iospired 
Of old, for yonder venerable pile, 
Devotion, and munificence, and zeal, 
To rear those richly tinted windows, now 
Alas! with ivy, and with weedy moss, 
Obstrusive hung : some, by the gusty wind, 
Or striplings, thoughtless in their boyish sports, 
Fractur'd,and heedlessly, by hand uncouth, 
With ill-according workmanship repaired. 

Noble, neglected edifice ! that seem'st 

Thyself to mourn thy change ! could my complaint, 

In unison with thine, their feelings move, 

Whose elegant abodes around thee rise; 

Beauty with holiness, should pace thy courts, 

And all thy pristine honours soon revive. 

How lost to piety, to virtue lost, 

Who^ with superfluous pageantry and pomp, 

Deck their own mansions, and neglect their God's ! 

Their's — fit abodes for royal feet to tread ; 

While his — " the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords," 

Damp, fetid, loathsome — a sepulchral cave ! 

Under the directions of the present vicar, Dr. 
Card, aided by a benefaction of £50 from the late 
Princess Charlotte of Wales, and Prince Leopold, 



66 CHURCH. 



her consort, this window has been again resplen- 
dently filled with painted glass, brought from less 
observable situations in other parts of the church. 
The principal figures are St. Lawrence, holding a 
gridiron, and St. George, standing upon a dragon, 
brandishing his lance. The others consist of Popes, 
Bishops, Saints, &c. 

In the fourth window from the east, on the 
southern side, are twelve scriptural subjects, com- 
mencing with the creation, and ending with the in- 
fancy of Cain, viz. 1, The Almighty forming the 
earth out of a chaos of confused atoms. 2, God 
creating the moon and the stars. 3, 4, and 5, God 
creating the plants, the fowls of the air, and the 
trees and beasts of the field. 6, God creating man 
out of the dust of the ground. 7, Adam in a deep 
sleep, and God taking a rib from his left side to 
create woman. 8, God leading Adam and Eve 
into Paradise. 9, Adam and Eve eating the for- 
bidden fruit. 10, Adam and Eve hiding themselves 
among the trees in the garden. 11, The Angel of 
the Lord expelling Adam and Eve from Paradise. 
12, Adam tilling the ground, and Eve with Cain 
upon her knee. 

In the fifth window was the history of Noah, but 
the only subjects preserved, are, the Almighty ap- 
pearing to Noah, and commanding him to build an 
ark ; and Noah sending out the Dove to see if the 
deluge had subsided. 

In the sixth south window, were the stories of 
Abraham and Isaac, but the only events that can 
now be traced of them, are the following; God 
appearing to Abraham ; Abraham taking Sarah to 



CHURCH. 67 



wife; Abraham putting out Hagar, the bond- 
woman ; Abraham journeying to Mount Moriah ; 
and Isaac sending Esau for venison. 

In the seventh window was the history of Joseph, 
but the only subjects now intelligible, are Joseph's 
dream, that the sun, moon, and stars, were making 
obeisance to him ; and Joseph sold by his brethren 
to the Midianites. 

The eighth window was occupied with subjects 
from the history of the Israelites, but not any of 
them are now distinguishable. 

The northern end of the transept opens from 
the chancel by a high pointed arch, having nu- 
merous mouldings rising from light shafts : at the 
sides are various compartments of handsome pan- 
neling. 

The large window in Jesus Chapel, which forms 
the extremity of the transept, is embellished with 
some elegant remains of painted glass. This beau- 
tiful window was perfect in the year 1720 ; but 
soon after, a violent storm blew it down, when sev- 
eral of the compartments were broken, and an 
ignorant glazier misplaced the pieces that were left. 

In the upper large compartments were repre- 
sented in a circle, (the traces of which may still be 
seen,) the Trinity, placing a crown on the head of 
the Virgin Mary : around them were the angelic 
choirs, praising God on various instruments. In 
one of the upper divisions to the right of the circle, 
is the offering of the Magi ; and on the left of it, 
are Adam and Eve praying, in the midst of the in- 
fernal spirits, with our Saviour bringing them out 
of hell. In other divisions were formerly, Christ 



68 CHURCH. 



received into Heaven, and St. Michael fighting 
with Satan. Besides the above, were also the fig- 
ures of Henry the seventh, armed and crowned, 
(his head still remains, but was misplaced when the 
window was blown down.) It is now in the top of 
the second compartment, with part of his surcoat. 
There were also, Elizabeth, his Queen, the Princes 
Arthur, and Henry, their sons ; Sir Reginald Bray, 
K. g., Sir John Savage, and Thomas Lovell, Esq., 
all of whom were Henry's privy counsellors. The 
figures of Prince Henry, and Sir Reginald Bray, 
alone remain perfect. They were all upon their 
knees, praying, and under was this inscription : 

Orate pro bono statu nobilissimi et excellentissi- 
mi regis Henriei septimi et Elizabeths regince ac 
domini Arthur i ' principis filli corundem, nee non 
predilect, issime consortis sue et suorum trium 
militum. 

Prince Henry is represented under a canopy of 
state, richly ornamented with flowing drapery, di- 
versly embroidered. He his kneeling upon two 
cushions, tasselled, placed upon a ground of small 
squares, chequered black and yellow. Before him, 
upon a desk or table, covered with tapestry, is an 
open book, upon a cushion, fringed and tasselled : 
upon the book lies a sceptre. He wears a shirt of 
mail, but is otherwise in complete plate armour, 
except an helmit. Upon the breast of his surcoat, 
are the arms of France and England, quartered ; 
and the same arms are on his right shoulder : round 
his neck is a file of three points, argent. Upon his 
head is an open coronet, whence his hair descends 
in long ringlets. The scabbard of his sword is 



CHURCH. 69 



much ornamented. The spurs are very long, but 
the points of the rowels are short. The canopy is 
surrounded by angels, sounding musical instru- 
ments, as sackbuts, bagpipes, and citherns, played 
on by a small stick. Sir Reginald Bray is kneeling 
on a crimson cushion, under a very rich gothic ca- 
nopy or tabernacle, within a niche : the latter is 
variously ornamented in compartments of a screen- 
like appearance ; blue, yellow, and crimson. He 
is in plate armour, and a shirt of mail, but without 
his helmet. His sword has a richly wrought scab- 
bard, but it is not so long as that of Prince Henry, 
The rowels of his spurs have long points. Before 
him, on a desk and cushion, fringed and tasselled, 
is an open book ; the cushion is embroidered with 
his name in Latin. Upon the breast and shoulder 
of his surcoat, are his arms, bearing in a shield ar- 
gent, a chevron, between three eagles erased sable. 
At his back is a richly wrought shrine, or reliqua- 
ry. Each of the above paintings is three feet two 
inches in height ; they were engraved by Strutt, for 
his " Manners, Customs," &c. ; but that of Prince 
Henry, is erroneously called Henry the seventh. 
They have been engraved also by the late John 
Carter, who made drawings of them upon the spot, 
in the year 1788. His engravings, coloured like 
the originals, were published in the second volume 
of his << Ancient Sculpture and Painting." The 
Salutation, the Nativity, the marriage of Canaan, 
and Christ sitting among the doctors in the temple, 
are in this window. 

The western window of this chapel, which con- 
sists of nine divisions, contains some fine paintings. 



70 



CHURCH. 



They are most of them entire, of which, the follow- 
ing are the subjects ; the salutation of Elizabeth ; 
the visitation of the Angel to Mary; the nativity; 
the presentation in the Temple ; the blind restored 
to sight ; the marriage of Joachim and Ann ; the 
resurrection of Lazarus; the multitude following 
our Saviour ; and the last supper. 

In the vicar's chapel, at the eastern end of the 
northern aisle, is a small window, elegantly filled 
up with painted and stained glass; upon which is 
depicted the arms of forty-six benefactors to the 
recent repairs of the church. 

J, HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCE LEOPOLD, 

2, MARQUISE CAMDEN. 

3, THE LORD BISHOP OF WORCESTER. 

4, EDWARD FOLEY, ESQ. 

5, T. C. Hornyhold, Esq., ( 26, Rt. Hon. S. Perceval, 



6, J. A. Bund, Esq., 

7, Mrs. Plumer, 

8, F. W. Campbell, Esq., 

9, Earl Beauehamp, 

10, Hon. Mrs. James Yorke, I 31, Dr. Graves, 

11, Sir Jonathan Cope, I 32, Mrs. Waldo. 



27, Lord Kenyon, 

28, Lord Sidmouth, 

29, J. Cocks, Esq., 

30, Lord Colchester, 



12, Admiral West, 

13, Lady Bolton, 

14, Lady Lyttelton, 

15, Lord Bristol, 

16, Sir Anthony Lechemere, 

17, ViscountDudley&Ward, 

18, Hon. B. Bouverie, 

19, Lord Hardwicke, 

20, Lord Harcourt, 

21, Lord Arden, 

22, Lord Lyttelton, 

23, Miss Dandridge, 

24, Lord D. Dunstanville, 

25, Rt.Hon.N.Vansittart, 



33, Lord Foley, 

34, Wm. Wall, Esq., 

35, Sir C. Anderson, 

36, C. A. Holl, Esq. 

37, Dr. Arnold, 

38, Winchc. Hartley, Esq. 

39, Dr. Hardwick, 

40, Sir T. Winnington, 

41, Lord Bathurst, 

42, Lord Coventr}', 

43, J. Phillips, 

44, — Wood, Esq., 

45, Lord Eardley, 

46, Hon. E. Cust. 




Wzndew C07ilaznz7ig 2&e Arr/u. 



CHURCH. 71 

The following inscription is below the window. 

Stranger, thou beholdest here the armorial bearings of 
those who chiefly aided the vicar, Henry Card, in restoring 
the interior of this venerable fabrick; and having done this 
pious deed, they further consented to his wishes of placing 
their arms in this window, as commemorative of it. A. D. 1820. 

On each side of the window, under Mr. Hailing 
and Mr. Montgomery's monuments, is a Projec- 
tion, which appears to have held statues. In the 
centre, is a book-stand, with two books; one is 
entitled, " A Companion to the Temple, or a Help 
to Devotion in the Use of the Common-prayer," 
dedicated to his sacred majesty King William: the 
title-page of the other is lost, but it treats on Infant 
Baptism ; of agreeing with the church of Rome, 
kneeling at the Sacrament, &c. Both are chained 
to an ancient desk, according to the request of the 
unknown donor, as appears written upon the blank 
before the title-page of one of the books, of which, 
the following is an exact copy. 

" Rev. Sir, 

I am ordered, by a person whose name 
I am obliged to conceal, to direct Dr. Combier's 
works to you, for the use of the parishioners of 
Great Malvern. You are desired to take care the 
church-wardens chain it in a convenient part of the 
church, free from raine and all abuse. The donour 
desires it may never be taken or lent out of the 
church, or used in any private house for ever ; and 
that this his desire, may not be forgotten, it is 
thought necessary, either that this letter be trans- 



12 CHURCH. 



cribed verbatim into the blank paper, before the 
title of the book, or deposited in the church coffer, 
for a direction to all succeeding ministers and 
church-wardens. When all things are done ac- 
cording to those directions, pray certify it me in a 
line or two. 

I am, rev. sir, your very humble servant, 

Oxford, Sep 3,1701. HENRY CLEMENTS." 

On the right hand side, is a Font, or receptacle 
for holy water. 

Amongthe remarkable Monuments in this struc- 
ture, those in Jesus Chapel, at the northern end of 
the transept, claim the greatest attention. The 
floor of this chapel is formed of curiously inscribed 
tiles, on many of them are the armorial bearings 
of divers benefactors : viz. Bohun, Earl of North- 
ampton ; Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick ; Morti- 
mer, Earl of March ; Clare, Earl of Gloucester ; 
and Beauchamp, of Powick. According to Nash, 
the date of some of these tiles is 1463 ; others in 
the 36th year of the reign of Henry the sixth. 

In a recess, at the northern end of the chapel, 
is a Monument of unquestionable antiquity ; it is 
a mutilated statue of a knight. It was removed to 
this spot from the southern aisle, at the commence- 
ment of the repairs : it is supposed to represent 
Walter Corbet, templar. Carter, who states that 
no similar figure had ever fallen under his obser- 
vation, describes it as being arrayed in mail ar- 
mour, of the Conqueror's time, having a long sur- 



CHURCH. 73 



coat, over it. The right hand is armed with a bat- 
tle-axe ; the left holds a circular shield, or target, 
and from under it hangs a sword. The feet have 
been broken off above the ankles. In another re- 
cess, is an inscribed stone, of a coffin-like form, in 
memory of TValcher^ who succeeded Aldwin in the 
government of this priory : it was dug up in May 
1711, in the Priory garden, near the church wall, 
where the cloisters stood. The inscription is in 
monkish rhyme, as follows : 

PHILOSOPHVS DIGNVS BONVS ASTROLOGVS, LOTHERINGVS T 

VIR PIVS AC HVMILIS, MONACHVS, PRIOR HVIVS OVILIS, 

HIC JACET IN CISTA, GEOMETRICVS AC ABACISTA, 

DOCTOR WALCHERVS; FLET, PLEBS, DOLET VNDQIVE CLERVS ; 

HVIC LVX PRIMA MORI DEDIT OCTOBRIS SENIORI; 

VIVAT VT IN CGEL.IS EXORET QVIS QVE FIDELIS. MCXXXV. 

Thus translated; In this tomb lies the body of 
Doctor Walcher, a native of the dukedom of Lor- 
rain, and prior of this convent, he was an acute 
philosopher, an able astrologer, a geometrician and 
mathematician ; a pious christian and a humble 
monk. His death is universally regretted, both by 
the clergy and laity. He died the first of Oct. in the 
year of our Lord 1 135. Let every faithful christian 
earnestly pray, that his soul may live in heaven. 

Upon the north-western wall is a white marble 
slab, with the following inscription, 

IN THE VAULT BENEATH 

ARE DEPOSITED 

THE REMAINS 

OP 

WILLIAM FRANKLAND, ESQ., 

SECOND SON OF ADMIRAL SIR THOMAS FRANKLAND, 

BARONET, 

OF THIRKBY, IN THE COUNTY OF YORKE. 

HE REPRESENTED 

THE BOROUGH OF THIRSK, 

6 



74 CHURCH. 



IN FOUR PARLIAMENTS, 

WAS LIEUTENANT COLONEL OF THE 

NORTH YORKE REGIMENT OF MILITIA r 

A FELLOW OF 

ALL SOUL'S COLLEGE 

IN THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD ; 

HIS MAJESTY'S ATTORNEY GENERAL, 

IN THE ISLE OF MAN; 

AND SOME TIME ONE OF THE 

LORDS COMMISSIONERS 

OF THE ADMIRALTY. 

NIHIL TETIGIT QUOD NON ORNAVITE. 

BORN 1761. DIED 1816. 

A short distance from Watcher's tomb, in the 
floor, is a brass plate, with this inscription, 

HERE LIETH THE BODY OF 

MARIA GIFFARD WILLIAMS, 

LATE OF MOAT-COURT IN THIS PARISH, 

WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE 

MARCH 35, 1785, AGED 2 YEARS. 

Now cease afflicted friends your loss to mourn, 
And think me happy tho' I can't return. 

In the transept opposite Jesus Chapel, is an el- 
egant monument to the memory of Mrs. Bathurst, 
wife of the Lord Bishop of Norwich with this in- 
scription : 

H: E: S: 
Quod Mori Potuit, 
Gratise Bathurst, Uxoris Dilectissima^ 
Henrici Bathurst D: C: L: Episcopi Norvicensis, 
Cui Peperit, Octo Filios, Et Tres Filias; 
Et cum Quo, Concordissime Vixit, 
Quadraginta, Et Tres annos, 
Grate Memor, Tarn Perjucundse Consuetudinis, 
Monumentum Hoc, Conjugi Mortuae 
Superstes Maritus, Extrui Curavit 
Et Ipse, Vita Functus, Cineres suos 
Requiescere, exoptat. 



CHURCH. 75 



Juxta Cineres Optimse De se M eritae Uxoris. 
Cujus Inter Multas, et Raras virtutes, 

Maxime Enituerunt, 
Erga Maritum, Amor Immutabilis; 
Erga Liberos Tenera, Et Mitis Indulgentia, 
Et Indefessa, Dum Manebat Vita, Solicitudo 
Erga Amicos, Ex Animo Amieitia; 
Erga Pauperes, Effusa Liberalitas ; 
Erga Omnes, Comitas Et Benevolentia. 

Accessit His Virtutibus, 
Erga Deum, Pia Reverentia, 
Qua, Non Leviter Imbuta Mens Ejus, 
Diutina Morbi Dolore, 
Infracta, Usque ad Mortem Permansit. 
Obiit Aprilis XIV, A: D: mdcccxxiii: 
iEtatis lxvii. 

In passing up the northern aisle to the vicar's 
chapel, upon a pillar, is a mural slab, surmounted 
by the sacramental cup and cloth, inscribed, 

SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF 

MISS GRACE COLT, 

ONLY DAUGHTER OF ROBERT COLT, ESQ. 

OF AULDBORN, EAST LOTHIAN. 

DIED 37 AUGUST, 1802, 

AGED 31. 

His cheerful watch some guardian angel keeps, 
Around the tomb where youth and virtue lie, 
Mourn then no more, her spirit only sleeps, 
Such worth, such genuine worth, can never die. 

In the vicar's chapel, on the left side, is a mural 
monument, 

TO THE MEMORY OF 

WILLIAM HALLINGS, M. A. 

RECTOR OF EVESHAM, 
IN THE COUNTY OF HEREFORD ; 



76 CHURCH. 

ALSO, 

PENELOPE, 

HIS WIFE, ONE OF THE DAUGHTERS 

OF FRANCIS WOODHOUSE, OF LARPORT, 

IN THE COUNTY AFORESAID, GENT. 

HE DIED MAY 23, 

AGED 56. 

A short distance below, is a neat white marble 
monument, to the memory of John Card, Esq. fa- 
ther of the present vicar ; a gentleman whose name 
will long be remembered in Malvern, not only for 
the zeal, activity and kindness, with which he pro- 
moted every plan, that had for it's object the bene- 
fit and improvement of the village at large, but also 
for the taste and skill he displayed in suggesting to 
his son, the vicar, those alterations in the church, 
which have excited the praise and admiration of the 
visitors. The writer of this work, has a mournful 
pleasure in paying this humble tribute of gratitude 
for kindnesses, which can never be forgotten. 

NEAR TO THIS SPOT, 
ARE DEPOSITED, THE REMAINS OF 

JOHN CARD, ESQUIRE, 

WHO AFTER SOME YEARS' RESIDENCE 

IN THIS PARISH, 

DIED MARCH 13TH, 1820, 

AGED 62. 

A SINCERE CHRISTIAN ; 

AN INDULGENT HUSBAND ; 

AN AFFECTIONATE FATHER ; 

A MAN OF JUST AND GENEROUS PRINCIPLES, 

BY WHICH THE ACTIONS OF HIS LIFE 

WERE UNIFORMLY GUIDED, 

TO HIS HONOURED MEMORY, 

THIS HUMBLE TRIBUTE, 

OF AFFECTION AND RESPECT, 

IS INSCRIBED, BY TWO YOUNG FRIENDS, 



CHURCH. 77 



WHO HAVING PASSED ELEVEN YEARS 

UNDER THE SAME ROOF WITH HIM, 

WILL LONG REMEMBER THOSE VIRTUES 

AND EXCELLENCIES, 

WHICH CAUSED HIM TO BE EQUALLY BELOVED, 

BY THE YOUNG, 

AND BY THE OLD, 

AND RESPECTED BY THE RICH AND BY THE POOR? 

On the right side of the elegant window in this 
-chapel, upon a modern marble slab, surmounted 
with armorial bearings, is the following inscription ; 

IN AN ADJOINING VAULT, 
LIE THE REMAINS OF 

ALEXANDER MONTGOMERIE, ESQ., 

OF ANNICK LODGE, IN THE COUNTY OF AYRE, 

WHO DIED, JULY THE 8TH, 1S02, AGED 57 YEARS ; 

HE WAS THE SECOND SON OF THE LATE ALEXANDER 

MONTGOMERIE, ESQ., 

OF THE SAME COUNTY, 

AND BROTHER TO THE EARL OF EGLINGTON; HE MARRIED 

ELIZABETH TAYLOR, DAUGHTER OF JOHN TAYLOR, ESQ., 

IN THE COUNTY OF WESTMORELAND, 

WHOM, WITH NINE CHILDREN, HE HAS LEFT TO LAMENT 

HIS LOSS, 

AND TO MOURN OVER THE MEMORY OF HIS DEPARTED VIRTUES ; 

TO COMMEMORATE WHICH, AND AS A SOLEMN BUT INADEQUATE 

MEMORIAL, OF HER TENDERNESS AND CONCERN, 

HIS SURVIVING WIDOW ERECTS THIS MONUMENT. 

BLESSED IS THE MEMORY OF THE JUST. 

A little distance beneath, is a plain white marble 
monument, over which their escutcheons are plac- 
ed, with this inscription : 

NEAR THIS SPOT 
ARE DEPOSITED THE REMAINS OF 

ANNA BELLA COPE, 

WIFE 

OF SIR JONATHAN COPE, BART. 

OF PINCK.NEY MORETON, IN NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 



78 CHURCH, 



SHE FEARED GOD, NOT DEATH, 

NONE EVER DEPARTED THIS LIFE, 

WHO STOOD LESS IN NEED OF POSTHUMOUS PRAISE; 

SHE HAD THOSE REAL VIRTUES 

AND GENUINE AFFECTIONS OF A CHRISTIAN, 

"WHICH ENSURE THE REGARD, 

AND DESERVE THE IMITATION 

OF SURVIVING FRIENDS. 

SHE DIED AUGUST 30TH, 1819, 

AGED 56» 

AND ALSO, THE REMAINS OF THE SAID 

SIR JONATHAN COPE, 

WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE, DEC. XXX. 
MDCCCXXII. 

The death of this excellent lady, like that of Mr. 
Card, to which we have just alluded, may be con- 
sidered as a public loss to the village of Malvern. 
But as the writer is not equal to praise her many 
and great virtues, the attempt will not be made. 

On each side of the window, under Mr. Hailing 
and Mr. Montgomerie's monuments, are two pro- 
jections, which appear to have held statues. 

On the eastern wall, is a monument in memory of 
one of the Dandridge family, on which is this in- 
scription : 

IN A VAULT ADJOINING THIS SPOT, 
LIE THE REMAINS OF 

CATHERINE YARNOLD, 

THIRD DAUGHTER OF JOHN DANDRIDGE, ESQ, 

OF BALDWIN'S GREEN, IN THIS PARISH, 

FIRST MARRIED TO WILLIAM BUND, ESQ, 

OF WICK, IN THE COUNTY OF WORCESTER, 

AFTERWARDS TO WILLIAM YARNOLD, ESQ, 

LATE OF MONMOUTH. 

SHE DIED AT CHELTENHAM, 27TH SEPTEMBER, A. D. 1800, 

AGED 60. 



CHURCH. 79 



In the door-way which formerly lead to the cha- 
pel consecrated to the Virgin Mary, is a mural 
marble slab, 

SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF 

MRS. SUSANNAH PLUMER, 

MANY YEARS A MUCH RESPECTED INHABITANT 

OF GREAT MALVERN ; 

RELICT OF FRANCIS PLUMER, ESQ, 

OF TWECKENHAM, 

IN THE COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX. 

SHE DIED NOV. 21, 1823, AGED 85 YEARS. 

In silence rest her unambitious tomb, 

She needs no fame, sepulchral praise is breath ; 

Affection drops it's tribute in their room, 

And her own conscience twines the immortal wreath. 

Under the Communion-Table is a flat stone, 
bearing this inscription : 

Hicjacet Maria uxor Gulielmi Ligon de Ma~ 
dresfield, armigeri, filia, Francisci, Egiocke de 
Egiocke militis, et coh&res fratris . Ohiit decimo 
Novembris 1688, cetaiis suce 59. 

At the bottom of the stone are these verses. — 

Stay passenger, and from this dusty urn, 

Both what I was, and what thou must be, learn ; 

Grace, virtue, beauty had no privilege, 

That everlasting statute to abridge, 

That all must die : then, gentle friend, with care 

In life, for death and happiness prepare. 

Flebilis hoc posuit thalami consors Mortuus est 
Januarii 29, 1680. JEtatis sexagesimo octavo. 

On the southern side of the choir upon a curious 
alabaster tomb, is the figure of John Knotsford, esq. 
armed, except his head and hands. Beside him lies 



80 CHURCH. 



his wife. At their feet upon a mural tablet is this 
inscription : 

HERE LYETH THE BODY OF JOHN KNOTSFORD ESQ. SERVANT 
TO KING HENRY THE VIII AND JANE HIS WIFE, DAUGHTER 
TO SIR RICHARD KNIGHTLY, KNIGHT, WHO BEING FIRST MAR- 
RIED, TO MR. WM. LVMLEY, HAD ISSUE, JOHN LORD LVMLEY, 
AND BY JOHN KNOTSFORD, HAD ISSUE V DAUGHTERS AND 
COHEYRS. HE DYED IN THE YEARE 1589, NOVEMBER 23. 

Over this inscription are his arms: Sable on a cross 
engrailed argent, an annulet of the field impaling ; 
or two pallettes gules. On the right side of the 
tomb, his daughters, Mary, the wife of Thomas 
Price, of Manaty, Esq. and Eleanor, wife of John 
Campion, Esq. on the left, Elizabeth, married to 
William Ridgley, of Ridgley, Esq. behind her Fran- 
cis, married to Thomas Kirle, of Marcle, Esq. At 
her parents' head, kneels to a book on a pillar, Anne 
their eldest daughter, who erected the monument, 
and was married to William Savage. 

On the northern side of the communion-table, is 
a flat stone with this inscription round it: 

HERE LYETH THE BO DYE OF PENELOPE, THE WIFE OF ROBERT 
WALWEYN, OF NEWLAND, GENTLEMAN, THE DAUGHTER OF 
RICHARD LIGON, OF MADERSFYELDE, ESQUIRE ; THE SONNE OF 
WILLIAM LIGON, ESQUIRE, SON OF SIR RICHARD LIGON, 
KNIGHT, SON OF THOMAS LIGON, ESQUIRE, AND ANNE, HIS 
WIFE, ONE OF THE DAUGHTERS OF THE LORDE BEAWCHAMPE. 
HES MOTHER WAS MARYE,THE DAUGHTER OF SIR THOMAS RUS- 
SAL STRENSHAME, KNIGHT ; OBIIT 13 JANUARIE, 1596. 

This stone, formerly covered a raised monument, 
which stood where the communion table now is. 
The handsome pew belonging to sir Anthony Leche- 
mere, of the Rhydd, partly rests upon it. A short 
distance from this, is the pew of the late John Sur- 



CHURCH. 81 

man, esq. of the Lodge. Each of these pews is 
handsomely lined with crimson cloth. Returning 
down the nave, on the northern side, are three 
marble monuments. Upon two of them, are in- 
scriptions to the Sneldon family. The third is in- 
scribed to the memory of Sarah Francis Abbot, 
wife of the late Dr. Abbot. 

Under the organ gallery, upon a flat stone, is 
this inscription : — 

HERE LYETH THE BODY OF ELIZABETH BAYLIS, 

WIFE OF JOSEPH BAYLIS OF THIS PARISH, YEOMAN. 

SHE DEPARTED THIS LIFE THE SEVENTH OF FEBRUARY, 

ANNO DOM. 1728, AGED 63. 

ALSO IN MEMORY 

OF CATHARINE THEIR DAUGHTER, WHO DIED 

THE FOURTH OF JUNE, ANNO DOM. 1689, AGED TWO MONTHS. 

ALSO UPON THE LEFT HAND, LIETH THE BODY 

OF THE ABOVESAID JOSEPH BAYLIS, 

WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE JANUARY 30TH, 

ANNO DOM. 1741, AGED 77 YEARS. 

They were so one, that none could truly say 
Which of them ruled, or whether did obey ; 
He ruled, because she would obey, and she, 
In so obeying, ruled as well as he. 

On the northern wall is a white marble monu- 
ment, on which is the following inscription : 

NEAR THIS SPOT 
ARE LAID THE MORTAL REMAINS OF 

HARRIET HOLLAND, 

WHO DIED AT MALVERN WELLS, AUGUST 21, 1814. 

SHE WAS DAUGHTER OF HENRY HOLLAND, ESQ.; 

A NAME RENDERED EMINENT BY HIS SKILL AND GENIUS 

IN THE PROFESSION OF ARCHITECTURE. 



82 CHURCH. 

FROM THE SUFFERINGS OF DISEASE ENDURED WITHOUT A 

COMPLAINT; 

FROM THE PAINFUL SYMPATHIES OF AN AFFECTIONATE HEART; 

FROM UNREMITTING LABOUR, IN THE RELIEF OF 

EVERY WANT BUT HER OWN; 

SHE WAS CALLED TO HER REST AT THE EARLY AGE OF 36. 

A little further, upon a mural slab, surmounted 
by a pyramid, upon which are two urns, with ar- 
morial bearings, is a monument, on which is in- 
scribed — 

SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF 

RICHARD BENBOW, 

OF THIS PARISH, GENT. 

WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE, DEC. 19TH, 1813, 

AGED 73 YEARS. 

ALSO NANCY, WIFE OF THE ABOVE RICHARD BENBOW, 

WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE, DEC. 23d, 1813, AGED 71 YEARS. 

In the chancel and other parts of the church, are 
many flatstones, containing the records of mortality. 

Death's terror, is the mountain faith removes, 

'T is faith disarms destruction, 

Believe, and look with triumph on the tomb. 

YOUNG. 

In the southern aisle, we find nothing particularly 
striking, except an enriched Circular Arch, res- 
pecting which the opinion of writers differ: one 
calls it a confessional ; another thinks it once held 
a tomb; it remains, therefore, a subject for con- 
jecture, and is worth the attention of the antiquary. 



CHURCH. 83 

In the transept, are two tablets, with these in- 
scriptions. 

EAST SIDE. 

A GENERAL STATEMENT OF THE FUND, 

raised from the Year 1814, to 1818, 

and expended in the 

Pavement of the Aisle, 

the Erection of new Pews of Free-sittings for the Poor, 

and the circular Arches ; 

in ornamenting the Pulpit, the Communion-table, 

the Front of the Organ-Gallery, and enlarging the Organ ; 

in filling the W. and N.-E. Windows with painted Glass, 

and fitting up the Monks' Stalls. 



BENEFACTORS. 

Edward Thomas Foley, Esq 

Earl Hardwick, 

Hon. Mr. Perceval, 

Hon. Mrs. James Yorke, 

Right Hon. Lady Lyttelton, . 

Right Hon. Lady Bolton, 

Mrs. Waldo, " , 

Mrs. Williams, second donation, 

Hon. Mrs. Yorke, 

Rev. William Willis, 

Lord Dunstanaville, ^ 

Dowager Lady Brownlow, 

Hon. and Rev. H. Cust, 

James Cox, Esq. M. P t ... 

Rev. Dr. Evans, Archdeacon, second donation, 

Earl of Bristol, 

Wm. Wall, Esq. second donation, 

John Taylor, Esq , 

Temple West, Esq. second donation, 

Sermon by the Rev. Henry Card, 

Rev. Dr. Abbot, deceased, 

Countess Harcourt, 



£. 


s. 


d. 


... 300 








... 31 


10 





... 30 








... 30 








... 21 








... 100 








... 50 








... 10 








... 5 








... 6 


5 





... 20 








... 5 


5 





.. 10 


10 





... 10 


10 





.... 5 


5 





... 70 








... 20 








... 5 


5 





... 36 








... 37 








... 5 


5 





... 12 









84 



CHURCH, 



Right Hon. Viscount Dudley and Ward, 2d. donation, 

Right Hon. N. Vansittart, 

Brief and Interest, ... 

Viscount Sidmouth, 

Lord Arden, ... 

Lord Eardly, 

Earl Bathurst, 

Winchcombe Henry Hartley, Esq 

Hon. B. Bouverie, 

Hon. James Cocks, M. P. second donation, 

Earl Beauchamp, ... ... 

Sir Henry Carr, K. C. B 

Two Sermons, by the Rev. Wm. Tilt, 

Sir Thomas Winnington, Bart., 

Lord Colchester, 

Joseph Yorke, Esq., .-. ... 

James Wood, Esq., 

Lord Kenyon, 

Joshua Watson, Esq ... 

Rev. Dr. Hardwick, 

Marquese Camden, 

Hon. Mrs. James York, 

James Taylor, Esq., ... 

John Richards, Esq., 

Holland Griffiths, Esq., 

Henry Clifton, Esq., 

Chasse Holl, Esq , , 

Rev. James Grimshaw, 

The Bishop of London, 

Pews, 

Parish Levy, 

Small donations, 

Princess Charlotte of Wales and the Prince Leopold, ... 



10 








50 








9 


19 





10 








TO 








5 


5 





10 








20 








5 








5 


5 





60 








10 








48 14 





5 


5 





10 








5 


5 





5 


5 





20 








5 








70 








JO 








5 








5 








5 








5 








5 








10 








5 








5 








225 








90 








40 








50 









<£1672 6 



Wishing to perpetuate the meritorious exertions 
of their vicar (the Rev. Henry Card), the church- 



CHURCH. 85 



wardens, at the request of the parishioners, subjoin 
the following statement, that out of the sixteen hun- 
dred and seventy-two pounds, six shillings, twelve 
hundred and fifty-six pounds and six shillings have 
been raised by the individual zeal and influence of 
the Rev. Henry Card, and the whole of the repairs 
begun and finished under his personal direction. 

James Hartwright,} . ^ io\(\ Samuel DeyJies,! . n ,„,„ 
Robert Richards, 5 ' John Blake, $ 

Church-wardens. 

ON THE WEST SIDE. 

A GENERAL STATEMENT OF THE FUNDS 

raised from the Year 1809, to 1814, 

FOR THE REPAIRS OF 

The Roof, Ceiling, Eastern and Northern Windows 

of Great Malvern Abbey Church. 

BENEFACTORS. £. s. d. 

The Hon. Edward Foley, M. P. deceased, 100 

The Right Hon. Lord Beauchamp, deceased, 52 10 

Sir Anthony Lechemere, 50 

The Lord Bishop of Worcester, deceased, .... 50 

Richard Morgan Graves, D. D. Vicar, deceased, 30 

Miss Graves, 5 

Mrs. Wall, 5 

Dean and Chapter of Worcester, 10 10 

James Henry Arnold, L. L. D. Chancellor, .... 10 

Thomas Evans, D. D. Archdeacon, deceased, .... 5 5 

Rev. William Calcott, deceased, 5 5 

Rev. Reginald Pyndar, 5 5 

Martin Wall, Esq., 5 5 

Mrs. Plumer, 21 

Miss Dandridge, 15 15 

Rev. Martin Stafford Smith, , 10 10 

Sir Charles Withers, Knight, deceased, 10 10 

Richard Bourne Chartlett, Esq., 5 5 

William Wall, Esq., 5 5 

Rev. William Probyn, 55 q 

Thomas Hornyhold, Esq. deceased, 10 10 



86 CHURCH. 



//«/ ••* *■** s ./•*+* 



Lowbridge Bright, Esq., deceased, 21 

George Palmer, Esq., 5 5 q 

Treadway Nash, D. D 5 5 

Benjamin Johnstone, Esq., 5 5 q 

Thomas Bund, Esq. , 5 5 

Rev. Richard Harrington, deceased, 5 5 

Mr. James Oliver, deceased, 5 5 

Mr. Joseph Williams, 5 5 

Rev. Allen Cliffe, 5 5 

Mr. Richard Benbow, deceased, 5 5 

Mr. Bellers, 5 5 

Mr. George Roberts, deceased, •••• 5 5 

Mr. William Bullock, 5 5 

Right Hon. Viscount Dudley and Ward, 50 

Mary, Countess of Harcourt, 10 

Mrs. Williams, „ 10 

Mr. John Mason, 5 5 

Right Hon. Lord Eardley, 50 

Mrs. Bridges, 10 10 

James Laird, Esq., deceased, 20 

George Nash, Esq., 5 5 

Thomas Phillips, Esq., 30 

Cossle Sanders, Esq., 20 

Temple West, Esq., 5 5 

Right Hon. the Earl of Coventry, deceased, 52 10 

The Lord Bishop of Worcester, 50 

Lady Hart, 5 5 

Rev. James Bosquet, 5 5 

Right Hon. Lord Foley, 50 

Right Hon. Lord Lyttelton, SI 10 

Charles Dowding, Esq., 5 5 

Earl Harcourt, 10 10 

William Danby, Esq., 10 

Walwyn Graves, Esq., deceased, 10 10 

Mrs. Graves, 5 5 

James Dallaway, Esq., 5 

Sir Charles Talbot, deceased, 10 

Small donations, 46 1 

£1016 11 



87 



MALVERN 

LIBRARY AND READING-ROOM. 



The idea of an institution of this description o- 
riginated with Mr. Samuel Deykes, a much res- 
pected and old inhabitant, to whom Malvern is in- 
debted for many of it's walks, &c. ; who formed an 
infant library, which was continued on an enlarged 
scale, by Mr. Southall, the organist, by whose assi- 
duity and exertions it assumed respectability, and 
became permanent. Still, as a public room, it fell 
far short of that capaciousness and elegance, which 
are necessary to a place much resorted to by persons 
of rank ; a place professedly designed to afford 
rational amusement and to entertain the polite and 
fashionable, at those times when the inclemency 
of the weather restricts or wholly prevents, both 
pedestrian and equestrian amusements. This in- 
convenience was strongly felt and acknowledged. 
On it's being represented, therefore, to Edward 
Foley, Esq. lord of the manor of Great Malvern 
(a gentleman possessed of very considerable prop- 
erty in the village and neighbourhood, and whose 
liberality of disposition, has always been conspicu- 
ous,) he determined upon erecting a building in a 
character commensurate with the object in view, and 
suited to the rising importance of Great Malvern, 
and the increasing estimation in which it is de- 



88 LIBRARY. 

servedly held. The spot selected, was that part 
of the village which most particularly required 
improvement ; and although circumstances, which 
could not be controlled, interfered to prevent 
the execution of all that could be wished, yet that 
which is done is a great improvement, and can be 
properly appreciated only by those to whom it's an- 
tecedent state was known. It must be confessed 
that much of an auxiliary nature upon the opposite 
side of the way, remains to be done, in order to dis- 
play the building with suitable effect, and to ren- 
der complete the improvement, of what may be 
considered the entrance to Great Malvern. The 
ancient Abbey-Church of this place, has long been 
justly celebrated for the richness and magnificence 
of it's gothic architecture. The site selected for 
the Library, being within a short distance of the 
church, the choice of style for the intended building 
became a matter of some importance ; and while the 
emulation of the architect was excited, probably the 
idea of rivaling the florid beauty of that ancient 
and sacred structure, occurred as a bold, if not dar- 
ing attempt. It is however certain, that the most 
admired specimens of the gothic style, were the 
work of a comparatively barbarous race, when 
knowledge was confined almost exclusively to ec- 
clesiastics ; while the Greeks were a most civilized 
and learned people. It appeared, therefore, on ma- 
ture reflection, that the Grecian style was incom- 
parably the most appropriate for the purpose ; it was 
consequently adopted, and the Library and adjoin- 
ing private house, present a structure, simply ele- 



LIRRARY. 89 

gant yet dignified, forming a striking feature in the 
picturesque and beautiful scenery of Great Malvern . 

Approaching the village from Hereford, and at 
the base of the Worcestershire beacon, the south- 
ern end of the building appears in grand and elegant 
perspective ; projecting from it, is a semicircular 
colonnade, enriched by a balustrade, highly finish- 
ed, which commands a fine view of the tranquil, 
undisturbed and almost boundless vale beneath, 
teeming with fertility, while the abrupt and tower- 
ing height of the hills, excite our admiration at the 
unlimited varieties of nature, which here present 
themselves, and the tout ensemble affords a most 
enchanting coup d' oeil. The building adds very 
much to the respectability of Great Malvern, and 
has proved perfectly satisfactory to the proprietor, 
Mr. Foley, whose munificence first brought into 
professional notice, in this part of the country, 
Mr. John Deykes, of London, the architect, to 
whom Great Malvern owes, whatever of gran- 
deur or ornament the building has contributed ; nor 
do we doubt that Mr. Southall, the occupier, will 
receive both encouragement and support. 

From the southern and western fronts, you enter 
the Reading-Room, fifty feet in length, which is 
supplied with newspapers, periodical publications, 
and the most esteemed authors of the day. 

The Library is of the denomination called Cir- 
culating, and the numerous volumes are well ar- 
ranged in the anti-room. They consist of the most 
popular works, such as are particularly calculated 
to meet the demands of the public. The classes 

7 



90 



LIBRARY, 



are varied to suit different tastes of readers, but 
each work is the best of it's kind. 

In another anti-room, Mrs. Soulhall supplies, in 
the first excellence of quality, Perfumery, Station- 
ery, Toys, and the various fashionable requisites, 
as at the libraries of Worthing, Brighton, Chelten- 
ham, &c. &c. 

Mr. Southall, also keeps, for the accomodation 
of the visiters, a good assortment of fine toned, 
grand, horizontal and small square Piano-Fortes, 
by Broadwood, Tomkinson, Clementi, La Motte, 
and other superior makers, which may be purchas- 
ed, or hired by the week or month, at a reasonable 
price. He has a great variety of printed music, 
by the most approved composers. 

In the reading-room, may be seen a book, with 
the names of the visiters of Malvern, for the last 
four years. 

Letters may be addressed to the library, (if post 
paid) for information respecting lodgings, which 
will be immediately attended to and duly answered. 

The residence over the library is appropriated to 
boarding and lodging, and every attention is paid 
to the comfort and wishes of the visiters. The 
rooms combine elegance with convenience; and, 
in general accommodation, nothing will be found 
wanting to cause the company to feel at home. 



91 



MALVERN BATHS, 



Hitherto Malvern had been deficient in the 
very necessary and pleasurable recreation of Bath- 
ing, a circumstance the more extraordinary, as 
the village has for many years been justly cel- 
ebrated for the efficacy and purity of it's waters. 
Without presuming to expatiate on the advantages 
of bathing, it is certain that, whether with that first 
of all considerations, the preservation or restora- 
tion of health in view, or simply as a practice of 
recreation and pleasure, Bathing has been resort- 
ed to in all ages, and in all countries. We know 
not to what circumstance it is to be ascribed, that 
Malvern had in this respect, been wholly unpro- 
vided ; nor whether the completion of the Library, 
led to the consideration of this no less requisite con- 
comitant of a fashionable Spa ; nor whether the 
idea originated with our highly respected Lord of 
the Manor, Edward Foley> Esq. whose benefi- 
cence is unbounded, and at whose expense the 
Baths were erected ; we presume, however, that it 
did, as from the professional taste of Mr. Deykes, 
of London, his architect, and under his superinten- 
dance, Malvern can now offer a new feature of at- 
traction to it's visitants. 

The elevation of the Baths is upon a line with the 
Library, and consists simply of three entrances, sur- 
mounted by an enriched entablature and balus- 



92 BATHS. 

trade. The centre, as the prominent character of 
the elevation, consists of a colonnade entrance to the 
pump-room, which is completely circular, with a 
dome ceiling, and communicates with the corri- 
dor leading to the baths. Such is the general char- 
acter of the building, which altho' abounding with 
every convenience, is yet on a scale of petit ele- 
gance, peculiarly suitable to the very limited site 
which could be allotted to it's elevation. It is 
therefore rather more florid in architecture, than 
the Library. The Warm Baths are commodious 
and elegant, as are the anti-rooms to each ; besides 
which, there is a Cold Plunging-Bath ; and also 
a very excellent Shower-Bath. Mr. Williams, 
the proprietor, and his wife, are indefatigable in 
their endeavours to promote the comfort of those 
ladies and gentlemen who honour them with their 
favours. Over the Baths is an elegant Billiard- 
Room, with a very handsome table by Thirston. 

Oh ! hither come, the bracing air to breathe, 
The hallow'd lymph to drink, or lave thy frame, 
Nature reviving, in the crystal spring. 

LETTERS ON MALVERN. 

We find that Mr. Deykes has suggested a new 
feature of elegant and comprehensive beauty, 
which, when executed, will combine essential ad- 
vantages and conveniences to Malvern. We will 
attempt a description. The prettiest part of Mal- 
vern is perhaps the line above the church, where the 
Belle Vue Hotel is situated. It may almost be cal- 
led a terrace. Proceeding thence, along the road 
to Hereford, there is a very considerable curve to 
the right, and the road afterwards assumes a con- 



BATHS. 93 



vex form round the base of the hills. To return 
thence to Malvern, at this point, the Library may- 
be seen, but is lost sight of, on continuing along 
the road. The suggestion is, to erect a rough par- 
apet wall at certain given points, to fill up the chasm 
from the hills, level with the present road, by which 
a most enchanting line of straight and level car- 
riage-drive would be made, directly into Malvern, 
and the curve in which the road now runs, might 
be appropriated to villas or to a crescent. The situ- 
ation would be exquisite, and, as a promenade and 
drive, it would be unequalled, both in respect to it's 
altitude and command of scenery. To persons 
acquainted with Windsor-Terrace, the idea will 
be at once familiar. 



94 



HOTELS 

AT 

GREAT MALVERN. 



CROWN HOTEL. 

The Crown, being the oldest hotel, we notice it 
first. It was originally a school, kept by Mr. 
George Roberts, who, about the year 1796, opened 
it as an hotel. Before that time, the company who 
visited Malvern, were accommodated at the Ab- 
bey-House, with board and lodgings, or at the 
neighbouring farm-houses. When in the posses- 
sion of Mr. Beard, he attached part of the Belle 
Vue to it, which was used as a coffee and sub- 
scription newspaper-room. The house has under- 
gone many alterations, which renders it weir cal- 
culated for the reception of company. It is now 
in the occupation of Mr. Morrison. From the gar- 
dens of this house, you may ascend the hill to St. 
Ann's Well. 



THE BELLE VUE HOTEL. 

Mr. Beard is the proprietor of this handsome 
house ; it is situated in the centre of the village, 
next to the Crown, and comprises various suits of 
airy and commodious apartments, genteelly fitted 
up for the reception of visiters. It commands a 



HOTELS. 95 



most extensive and beautiful view of the country, 
and that delightful Walk called St. Edith's, is in 
the front of it. This hotel is but a short distance 
from Foley-Terrace and St. Ann's Well. 

THE FOLEY ARMS. 

This very spacious hotel, which abounds with 
every comfort, as well as every elegance, was built 
in the year 1810, from a plan drawn by Mr. Sam- 
uel Deykes ; but the influx of company, which 
resorted to it, required more rooms, and Mr. 
Downs, the proprietor and occupier, added two 
wings to the building. The apartments are com- 
modiously fitted up, in a style appropriated to the 
dignity of those who visit the house. The front 
commands a grand view of the Worcestershire Bea- 
con and North Hill, and the back an extensive 
and delightful prospect, over a beautiful and varie- 
gated country. 

At these hotels, families are boarded in private 
apartments, on moderate terms. The company 
who honour them with their presence, will find 
great civility and attention ; with excellent sta- 
bling for horses at livery, commodious coach- 
houses, and able post-horses. 

THE ABBEY HOUSE, 

kept by Mrs. Richards, and her son, Mr. R. Rich- 
ards, is comfortably fitted for the reception of vis- 
iters as boarders. It was erected upon the ruins of 
the Priory. Near it are some of the remains before 



96 LODGING-HOUSES. 



noticed. The architecture of the house is of the 
reign of Queen Elizabeth. The appended walks 
and gardens are very delightful. A table de hote 
is kept here. 

LODGING-HOUSES. 

Most of the houses in the village are appropriated 
as lodgings, See the Map of the Hills, Walks, 
Wells, &c. The terms vary according to the time 
of the year, and the attendance required. The full 
price commences the first of June, and ends the 
first of November. We believe the charges will be 
found much the same, as at other watering-places. 



97 



THE POST-OFFICE. 



The Post-Office is in the central part of the vil- 
lage, opposite Paradise-row. The mail from the 
Hay, and Hereford, arrives here at half past one 
o'clock in the day, and takes the bag with the 
Malvern letters, to the Worcester office, whence 
they are forwarded by the different mails. The 
mail from London and Worcester, reaches Malvern 
at half-past eleven o' clock in the morning, and the 
letters are delivered immediately. The mail for 
London, leaves Worcester at half-past three in the 
afternoon ; the Bristol mail at ten o'clock at night ; 
and the mail for the north, passing through Worces- 
ter, takes the letters from the office about midnight, 
or early in the morning. 

Letters from Malvern, arrive in London, the 
following morning. All letters must be put into 
the Malvern office before twelve o' clock, at noon. 

No letters can be sent unpaid, beyond the seas, 
except to such colonies in the West Indies, and 
North America, as are within his Majesty's domin- 
ions, Hon<}uras and Newfoundland excepted. 

Letters for Canada, Halifax, Nova-Scotia, and 
the West Indies, may be paid or not, at the option 
of the party, but no postages are taken for the East 
Indies. 



POST-OFFICE. 



The mails are made up at the general post-office 
as follows : 

France, every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 
and Friday. 

Italy, Switzerland, Turkey and Spain, through 
France the same days. 

Holland, the Netherlands, Hamburgh, Germany, 
Russia, Prussia, and Denmark, every Tuesday and 
Friday. 

Sweden, Norway, Madeira, and Brazils, first 
Tuesday, monthly. 

Portugal, every Tuesday. 

Berbice, Surinam, and Demerara, second Wed- 
nesday in each month. 

Corunna, every second Tuesday. 

Lisbon and Oporto, every Tuesday. 

Gibraltar, Malta and the Mediterranean, first 
Tuesday monthly. 

Jamaica and America, first Wednesday monthly. 

Leeward Islands, first and third Wednesday, 
monthly. 

Cape and East Indies, are sent by ships, as op 
portunity offers. 

All foreign letters must be put into the Malvern 
office, one day previously. 

This being a government office, letters may be 
franked from this place. 



99 



CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS. 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOL 

at Great Malvern, owes it's existence to the un- 
bounded philanthropy of the Bight Hon. Apphia> 
Baroness Lyttelton, second daughter of Brome 
Witts, Esq. late of Chipping-Norton, receiver gen- 
eral of the county of Oxford, born April 27, 1743. 
She was first married to Colonel Peach, second in 
command in the East Indies, who died at Mong- 
hair, in June, 1772 On her return to England, she 
purchased the Leasowes, in the parish of Hales- 
Owen, once the property of William Shenstone, 
Esq., where she lived in retirement, She again 
entered the marriage-state, with the late Thomas 
Lord Lyttelton, only son of the celebrated George 
Lord Lyttelton. She has been for many years and 
still continues indefatigable in her labours and zeal 
to promote the general welfare of Malvern, and 
particularly in implanting religious, virtuous, and 
industrious habits among the lower orders of socie- 
ty. In the prosecution of her business of doing 
good, her ladyship has erected two distinct buildings, 
the first containing a Sunday-School and a School- 
house, the other a School of Industry. Her lady- 
ship's resource for raising the former structure, is so 
interesting, and withal, forms so laudable a trait in 
her character, that we cannot pass it in silence. 

LofC. 



100 CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS. 



When her ladyship married Colonel Peach, he 
presented her with a valuable set of filigree dres- 
sing-plate. She determined, at one time or other, 
to dedicate it's value to some charitable purpose, 
and first intended to endow some houses for wid- 
ows, but finding the state of the children about 
Malvern was miserable, from a total want of reli- 
gious instruction, she resolved to honour the me- 
mory of the donor, by laudably applying his gift to 
the erection of a Sunday-school. 

For the gratification of our readers, we here sub- 
join further particulars of this school. Her lady- 
ship having obtained a grant of land from Edward 
Foley Esq. lord of the manor of Great Malvern, 
she had a deed prepared, which enabled her le- 
gally to give the school-house, by a separate dis- 
tinct conveyance, to the parish of Great Malvern and 
church-wardens, for the time being, for ever. She 
also has appointed trustees for the security of the 
building and premises : and to guard it from being 
converted to any other use than a Sunday-school, 
the trustees are to take care that the nsmber of 
children never exceeds ninety ,• to undertake the 
sole direction and custody of any fund which may 
hereafter be formed for the repairs of the building ; 
and to confirm the appointment of a master or mis- 
tress, in case of vacancy by death, or whenever 
a change may be found requisite, by a local com- 
mittee, which is to be authorized by the trustees, to 
direct and superintend the business and progress of 
the school, and to enforce all the appointed rules 
for the management of it. After the annual ser- 
mon for the benefit of the charity is preached in 



CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS. 101 



j*r*r*^rr>r** *•**+ 



Malvern Church, in the month of September, the 
trustees meet once a year in the school-room, in the 
month of October, at which time the accounts are 
audited, and the state of the school business inves- 
tigated, particularly in what relates to the religious 
improvement of the children. The number at pres- 
ent amounts to eighty, i. e. forty-five girls and thir- 
ty -five boys. Besides these, there are ten prepar- 
atory scholars. Lady Lyttelton, being president, 
during her life, retains the privilege of appointing 
the master and mistress. In like manner the ap- 
pointment of a necessitous widow or spinster of 
suitable age, devolves upon her ladyship. This 
widow is to live rent-free in the cottage-part of the 
school-house ; her business being to keep it clean 
and aired. The master and mistress are not allow- 
ed to reside in it, lest it might occasion embarrass- 
ment, should their removal become necessary. The 
long room, on the ground floor, is appropriated for 
the children to dine. Each child brings his dinner, 
whether living near or distant. This rule being a 
condition of admittance into the school, suitable 
tables are provided for them, with seats, in 
which their new garments are always locked up. 
This room Lady Lyttelton has ordered never to be 
converted into one for teaching. This part of the 
design includes in it, order, regularity and decen- 
cy, which are considered by the donor, important 
and essential parts of education, and require to be 
strictly enjoined upon the lower orders of youth, 
of both sexes. The committee exacts invariably 
from the master and mistress, mild behaviour to the 
children, and strict attention to the rules which are 



102 CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS. 



hung up in the school-room. One guinea annual- 
ly, or a donation of five guineas, includes to the 
subscriber, the privilege of being a member of the 
local committee. 

Lady Lyttelton has determined that the exterior 
of the school-house, shall be finished with a gothic 
architrave, or in some way completed, that it's ap- 
pearance may harmonize with the church adjoin- 
ing, and, after her death (for Lady Lyttelton's 
lowliness of heart will not permit it to be done dur- 
ing her life), her armorial bearings are to be erect- 
ed upon the outside, in a conspicuous part of the 
elevation, with the following inscriptions : 

Every devoted thing is most holy unto 
the Lord. LeviticuSt 

But Jesus said, « Suffer little children 
to c03ie unto me, and forbid them not." 

St. Matthew. 

Let every benevolent heart, unite in prayers to the 
Almighty, that her ladyship may be long contin- 
ued among us, for whenever it pleases the allwise 
Disposer of events to call her home to habitations of 
glory, her loss will be universally and severely felt. 

Nor has the philanthropy of her ladyship rested 
here; her wonted benevolencehasextended further. 
Observing that at present, the peasantry of Great 
Malvern, are so earnesly desirous of obtaining light 
and genteel work, that the farmers find it difficult 
to procure weeders ; and aware of the baneful ef- 
fects arising from an improper love of dress among 
female servants, she has endeavoured to check the 
growing evil, and has suggested and supported, by 
her influence, the following institution : 



103 



SCHOOL OF ANCIENT INDUSTRY, 

FOR SPINNING OF 

Wool, Flax, Hemp, Knitting, &c. &c. 

ERECTED ON MALVERN CHASE, 

through the Liberality of 

Lady Lytteltdh, 

Edward Foley, Esq., of Stoke Edith Park, 

Earl Beauchamp, and others. 

It being judged expedient, that there should be 
instituted a school of real industry for females, in 
the poorer classes of this parish, an unadorned build- 
ing was erected near PecJcham Grove, her lady- 
ship's cottage, in which is a room, 35 feet by 14, 
suitable for the work carried on by children, who 
are taught to card and spin wool, flax and hemp, 
knitting, and every kind of common needle-work ; 
such as making and mending coarse garments, jack- 
ets, and linen for the use of their parents and them- 
selves. In this manner they may learn to produce 
their own garments of a cheap and substantial kind, 
suitable to their condition in life, as in former ages. 
In order to preserve to society, a useful hardy peas- 
antry, it is intended to encourage field-work ; and 
that this employment may not be the means, as here- 
tofore, of corrupting the morals of young persons, 
one of the matrons of the school always attends and 
works with them. Reading is regularly promoted ; 
religious duties instilled, and industry is encouraged 
by an exact account being kept of their respective 



104 CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS. 



earnings. The lord of the manor, Edward Foley, 
Esq. generously gave some timber for the building 
of this school, and united with the Rev. Henry 
Card, and the several land and free-holders, in 
granting leave to enclose some waste land for the 
school, and many of them assisted in the work, by 
drawing materials to the spot ; a pleasing proof of 
the unanimity and zeal, for the benefit of the poor, 
and highly creditable to the parish : besides, it can- 
not be doubted that the visitors of Malvern, per- 
ceiving the great advantages which society derive 
from such excellent institutions, will readily con- 
tribute to a fund for economical erections, and to 
purchase materials, benches, &c, for conducting 
the school business. The projecter of the plan, 
commenced a subscription with ten guineas, to 
which Earl Beauehamp gave another ten guineas, 
which sum was increased by small subscriptions from 
the nobility and gentry visiting Malvern. The 
school-room, althoughbuilt on the most frugal plan, 
exceeded the sum raised, as appears by the accounts 
and vouchers, exclusive of the expense of enclos- 
ing and cultivating a small parcel of land, for the 
purpose of raising hemp and flax, for the employ- 
ment of the children. From the extreme high 
price of flax and hemp, as sold in the shops, these 
articles cannot be bought so as to benefit the poor, 
which it is presumed would be effected by cultivating 
and dry-dressing these articles, according to a new 
plan, by a machine. Six of these are now employ- 
ed with great advantage, on the national school at 
Bath. Depending on the continued support which 
this institution would receive by additional dona- 



CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS. 105 



tions, Lady Lyttelton sent an intelligent messenger 
to Bath, to purchase a pair of machines, and to be 
fully instructed in the use of them. To cover the 
deficiency in the building accounts, as before men- 
tioned ; to pay the annual very moderate wages of 
16s. per month to the school-mistress ; to defray the 
expense of building an additional room, in which 
to dress the flax, and for a single loom to weave 
the produce of the children's spinning, in wool, 
hemp and flax ; and to pay the incidental expenses, 
necessary to the establishment, books are opened 
and donations thankfully received at the Library, 
the principal hotels, the Abbey House, and by Mr. 
Deykes, the treasurer. Many as have been the 
difficulties which have occurred in the formation of 
this institution, the exhibitions and sales in the 
school-room, have proved highly satisfactory and 
flattering. The following is a copy of the circular 
invitation which Lady Lyttelton sentto her friends. 

<< Lady Lyttelton would be happy to see Lady 
W. and friends, on Tuesday the 9th of October, at 
eleven o' clock, at the School of Industry, and af- 
terwards, to take a sandwich in her new cottage on 
the Chase. Peckham Grove, 27th of Sep. 1821." 

Previous to the 9th of October, there was exhib- 
ited in the school-room, a notice, that the parents 
and friends of the children, greatly desired to pur- 
chase the articles made by them. They were, there- 
fore, only exhibited to shew the company the util- 
ity of the plan, the leading object of which, is to in- 
duce a spirit of housewifery and domestic habits, 
suited to the sphere in life of the children. 

8 



106 CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS. 



An account of the incomes and outgoings is o- 
pened and lies in the school-room for examination, 
under entries of Dr. and Cr. with vouchers, for the 
four years, including particulars of expenditures 
in building, fenciDg and cultivating the land for 
growing the flax ; a crop of which has been raised 
upon the premises. 

In consequence of this notice, the company at 
Malvern (the greatest in number and of the high- 
est in rank which had ever appeared in any season), 
assembled to see the children at breakfast, and to 
view the productions of the little bee-hive, consist- 
ing of woollen and linen cloth, six dozens of stock- 
ings, &c. «fcc. Much gratification was expressed 
by the company, and the contribution, at the time, 
amounted to the sum of thirty-five pounds. This 
sum, according to an agreement, was paid to Mr. 
Thomas Mc. Cann, a builder, on the covering-in 
of the desirable additional buihiing, on the 5th of 
November; and thirty-five pounds more were paid 
on it's completion, the 17th of November. This 
addition will greatly increase the usefulness of this 
humble plan, and it is hoped, will induce future vis- 
iters to patronize it, by which, the parish will be 
benefited and the scholars will derive the great bles- 
sing of early habits of industry, regularity and sub- 
ordination, founded on religious principles. May 
this excellent institution prove an example to sur- 
rounding parishes, that they may go and do likewise ! 



107 



FEMALE SERVANTS' 

BENEFIT INSTITUTION. 



A plan was devised May 6, 1819, by the Rev. 
Henry Card, vicar of Malvern, under the title of 
the " Female Servants' Benefit Institution," the ob- 
jects of which are to aid and encourage meritorious 
conduct in the married and unmarried women, of 
the class of domestic and agricultural servants in 
his parish; to reduce the habit of parochial depen- 
dance, by cherishing a spirit of economy, order, 
and frugality; (which latter quality, will, it is hop- 
ed, naturally lead them to dress in a manner be- 
coming their humble stations in life,) and espec- 
ially to restore family virtue to a just estimation 
among them, in which chastity bears a principal part. 
These desirable results are proposed to be effect- 
ed by means of gratuities and the saving-bank. 

Such being the important views of this institu- 
tion, the committee appointed to manage it, earn- 
estly hope, that the willing liberality of the wealthy 
visiters of this place, will remove the most specious 
objection to the design; viz. despair of success; 
since without their benefactions, the undertaking 
must languish and die; but when this assurance is 
connected with the unquestionable fact, that the 
evil to be remedied, owes much of it's inveteracy 
to their servants, it surely may be confidently 






108 CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS. 



anticipated, that in this view of the subject, visiters 
will feel a particular call to support the institution 
with their purses and their influence. The com- 
mittee, therefore, trust that the foregoing statement, 
which, if necessary, can be substantiated by a vari- 
ety of heart-rending cases, will have the effect of 
commanding the conscientious attention of almost 
every visiter of both sexes, in this place ; who form- 
ing exemplary instances in themselves of all that is 
amiable and commendable, know, by repeated fail- 
ures, how vain is the attempt of taking into their own 
hands the moral guidance of their servants; and so 
far are the committee from entertaining any fear, 
that this explicit avowal on their parts, will be con- 
verted into a cause of offence, that next to the de- 
sign itself, they would press this very circumstance 
upon the consideration of the visiters, as one of all 
others, which should most powerfully invest the in- 
stitution, with the claims of an indispensible obliga- 
tion to their patronage. 

Subscriptions and donations are received by the 
Rev. Henry Card, treasurer ; also at the Library ; 
at the principal Hotels, and at the Abbey-house. 

£. s. d. 
Amount of subscriptions and donations, arising from 
the sermon preached for this institution by the Rev. 
Henry Card, ... 114 

PATRONESSES OF THE INSTITUTION. 
SuhscrijJtions. 

Countess of Harcourt, 5/0 

Right Hon. Lady Lyttelton, 5 

Hon. Mrs. J. Yorke, 5 

Mrs. Mary Dandridge, 5 



CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS. 109 



<f. 


s. 


d. 


10 








20 








10 








o 








1 








5 








5 








5 








3 


3 





3 


3 





1 









PRESIDENT OF THE INSTITUTION. 

Edward Foley, Esq., 

Donations. 

Earl of Bristol, ... 
Earl Beau champ, 
Lady Cope, 

A Visiter, 

Dr. Hardwick, ... 
Mrs. Hardwick,... 
Admiral West, ... 

Miss Dod, 

Miss Eleanor Dod, 
Mrs. Whitaker, ... 

Ann Carter, on the morning of her marriage with 
Thomas Smith, the 9th of November, 1820, receiv- 
ed the premium of five pounds from the managing 
trustees of this institution, for the meritorious dis- 
charge of her duty in capacity of a domestic servant 
to the Rev. Henry Card, vicar, in whose service 
she lived eight years. 

Hannah Cox, received the premium of six pounds 
for the meritorious discharge of her duty in capacity 
of a house-keeper to Mrs. Plumer, in whose service 
she lived for twenty years. 

Ann Matthews, received the premium of six 
pounds, for the faithful discharge of her duty as 
a domestic servant with Mrs. Tomkins, in whose 
service she lived nineteen years. 

Rachael Green, received the premium of four 
pounds, for the meritorious discharge of her duty, 
in capacity of a domestic servant to Mr. Probert, in 
whose service she lived twenty-six years. 



110 CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS. 



Sarah Beech, received the premium of four 
pounds from the institution, for the discharge of her 
duty in capacity of a cook to Miss Dandridge, in 
whose service she lived six years. 
Malvern, Sep. 1821. 



Ill 



THE FOREST, OR CHASE 

OF MALVERN. 



■But now I turn, 



From hills, that in the distance die away, 
To mark the memorable Chase. 
In vain the eye enquires for that great track 
Of forest, thickly strew'd with giant elms, 
That once adorn'd the circling plain beneath ; 
"Whose lofty tops e'en jealous Malvern view'd, 
And felt himself less vast. 

Thy woods are levell'd, thy tall trees 

That dared the blast and check'd e'en Malvern's pride, 
Are now no more. 

COTTLE'S " MALVERN." 

In the time of William the Conqueror, in whose 
reign the monastery was founded, this Chase belong- 
ed to the King-, and so much was it overgrown with 
wood, that the monk of Malmsbury called it a wil- 
derness. This forest received the name of Chase, 
(which denotes private property) from the circum- 
stance of Edward the first, giving it to the Earl of 
Gloucester, on his marriage with his daughter. 
Malvern Chase occupied that extensive vale situa- 
ted between the river Severn and the Malvern 
hills, and extended on the Herefordshire side of the 
hill, in length, from the river Teme to Cors Forest. 
The whole was computed to occupy the following 
number of acres. In Worcestershire, seven thou- 
sand one hundred and fifteen, besides two hun- 
dred and forty one, called the Prior's-land ; six 



112 CHASE. 



hundred and nineteen acres in Herefordshire; and 
one hundred and three in Gloucestershire. These 
parishes and hamlets following", were reputed to be 
within the liberties and precincts of the Chase ; 
viz. the parish of Handley Castle, a parcel of Up- 
ton upon Severn, the parish of Welland, part of 
Longdon, Castle Morton, Birt alias Birch Morton, 
the Berrow, Bromsberrow, Malvern Parva, Malv- 
ern Magna, part of Leigh, called Hawswell ; Math- 
on and Col wall, in the county of Hereford. Not 
long after Gilbert de Clare, earl of Gloucester, had 
taken possession of this forest, a great controversy 
happened between the Bishop of Hereford and the 
Earl. There may still be seen, upon the top of 
Malvern hill, the remains of a Trench, drawn 
upon the narrow ridge of this steep hill, to divide 
the possessions of the Bishop of Hereford, from the 
Chase, and to limit the two counties. 

These forests, thus falling from the king to a sub- 
ject, altered their names. We find in Dugdale's 
" Baronage," that the marriage of Gilbert the sec- 
ond with Maude, daughter of John de Burgh, 
among other lands was assigned to her, for her 
dowry, the Chase of Cors, the castle and manor of 
Hanley and Chase of Malvern; but she having no 
children by him, his sisters became his heirs; and 
Elianore, the eldest, who married Hugh le Dispen- 
cer the younger, brought Malvern with other large 
possessions, into that family ; and from them, after 
the third generation, it came to Richard Beau- 
champ, Earl of Warwick, in the time of Henry the 
fifth; who had issue Henry Duke of Warwick, and 
Ann, married to Richard Nevil, Earl of Warwick 



CHASE. 113 

and Salisbury, who on the death of her brother 
Henry, became his sole heir, and leaving two 
daughters by Nevil, their whole estate was divided 
between them ; of whom one was matched to Ed- 
ward Prince of Wales ; and after he was murdered 
at Tewkesbury, she became the wife of Richard duke 
of Gloucester, afterwards king of England, as ap- 
pears in the great west window of Malvern Church ; 
which proves that Malvern Chase, in the partition 
of Warwick's lands, fell to King Richard the third . 
The other sister and coheir, married George duke 
of Clarence, brother to Richard the third, King 
Richard having no issue, this ample inheritance de- 
scended to Edward Plantagenet, the Duke's son 
and heir, the unfortunate and only remaining 
branch of that family. Upon whose attainder, in 
the reign of Henry the seventh, it returned to the 
crown, from whence it came, together with the 
castle and manor of Hanley, the parks of Black - 
more, Hanley and Cliffey, all lying in the bosom 
of the Chase ; with the market town of Upton-upon- 
Severn. The Chase from this time, remained in 
possession of the crown, till about the year 1630; 
when King Charles the first, granted one third part 
of the Forest or Chase of Malvern, to Sir Robert 
Heath, then his majesty's attorney-general, and Sir 
Cornelius Vermuyden, and the other two to the 
commoners, the dividing of which caused several 
riots and disorders. An information against Fran- 
cis lord bishop of Hereford, Sir Thomas Russell, 
knight, Sir William Russell, bart. and John Horny- 
old, esq. and other commoners, was exhibited in 
the exchequer in Hilary term, 1630-1, by Sir R. 



114 CHASE. 



Heath; whereupon a decree was made by conse n 
of the parties, for it's disafforestation, and by his 
Majesty's letters patent, dated May 12th, in the 
seventh year of his reign, it was declared to be dis- 
afforested ; but the decree proving doubtful in some 
respects, a bill of review was exhibited by the com- 
moners, which being brought before the King's coun- 
cil, it was determined that all controversies should 
cease, that no part should be enclosed but the King's; 
and that learned council in the law, should meet 
in the beginning of Michaelmas term, then follow- 
ing, to settle all differences ; in which term, it was 
decreed by the barons of the exchequer, that only 
the King's part should be enclosed, and that the 
other two thirds be for ever left open and free for 
the commoners to take their common of pasture, 
and common of estovers therein, as they had been 
accustomed ; and that no mean lords of manors, or 
other freeholders, should enclose any part of the 
same, or fell any woods or trees growing thereon, 
whereby the commoners might be hindered of their 
estovers ; and among other things it was then de- 
creed, that no new cottage should be erected upon 
the third part allotted to his Majesty, or any new 
tenement, whereunto there should not be laid and 
continued twenty acres at the least, nor any new 
cottage erected upon any part of the said two other 
parts, to be left to the commoners, but such only 
as should be wai ranted by the laws and statues for 
the maintenance and provision of the poor, and 
that the king's part, wherever set out, should con- 
tribute to the charge of church and poor, in the 
several parishes where they shall lie. 



CHASE. 115 

This decree, made November 19, the eighth year 
of Charles 1st, was afterwards confirmed by an act 
of Parliament. During the sixteenth year of 
Charles the second, most of the King's third part, 
being then by mean conveyances come into the 
hands of Sir Nicholas Strode, of the Inner Temple, 
knight, and the rest in Herefordshire, being then 
in the hands of John Birche and William Thack- 
well, gentlemen. Since that period, however, 
there have been several trials respecting the right 
of common, all of which were terminated, so as to 
establish the original privileges, with very few ex- 
ceptions, equally among thirteen parishes, which 
are situated upon the confines of the ancient chase ; 
namely, parish of Hanley Castle, Upton on Severn, 
Welland, Longdon, Castle Morton, Birch Morton, 
Berrow, Bromsberrow, Great Malvern, Little 
Malvern, Leigh, Mathon, and Col wall, until that 
part of the common which was in the parish of Han- 
ley began to be enclosed. 

The lord of the manor of Hanley was the chief 
lord of this Chase, and of all the royalties of it, and 
appointed the constable of the castle of Hanley, the 
parker of Blackmore, the steward, the bailiff, the 
master of the game, four foresters and a ranger, to 
hold once in the year, a lord day and a court bar- 
on, every three weeks, to determine all manner 
of pleas and trespasses, debts or detainers, which 
exceeded not the value of forty shillings to this 
court, besides the homage and customary tenants 
thereof were free suitors, the abbot of Westminster, 
the abbot of Pershore, the prior of Much Malvern, 
the prior of Little Malvern, the lord Clifford for the 



116 CHASE* 

lordship of Stoke upon Severn, the lord of Mad- 
resfeyld, the lord of Bromesbarow and the lord of 
Byrtes Morton. 

The bishop of Worcester had lands within this 
forest ; for in the eighth year of Richard the first, 
John de Constantiis, then bishop, had liberty grant- 
ed him to assert, in his own wood, in the forest of 
Malvern, near to the mill of Wenland, three hun- 
dred acres of land, for the use of the church of St. 
Mary Wigorn, to hold to him and his successors for 
ever, and to do therewith what they would, free from 
all exactions of the foresters. These lands of the 
bishopric, were, it seems, encroached upon by the 
trench, made by the earl of Gloucester, upon the 
top of Malvern-hill, which, by the mediation of 
Robert Burnell, bishop of Bath and Wells, and oth- 
ers, was thus decided ; that the earl and his count- 
ess should pay, yearly, to the bishop and his suc- 
cessors, a brace of bucks and a brace of does, out 
of his Chase of Malvern, at his palace at Kemsey : 
and, in the vacancy of the see, the same to be paid 
to the prior and convent of Worcester, demanding 
them, by their attorney, at the castle of Hanley, 
which agreement was afterwards confirmed by King 
Edward the first, at Norham, in the nineteenth year 
of his reign. These privileges were granted to the 
bishops of Worcester ; but we do not find that ever 
they were free suitors to this court. 

No sheriff, eschaetor, or any foreign officer what- 
soever, had any power to intermeddle within the 
said lordship, but the bailiff of Hanley was to exe- 
cute and serve all precepts, and to return the same 
at his jeopardy ; and as for the peace, no warrant 



CHASE. 117 



from the justices to be obeyed or executed there by 
any foreign officer, forasmuch as the constables of 
the said lordship of Hanley were to sue and arrest 
the parties, named in the said warrants, and the said 
parties to commit to ward. 

The foresters only had authority to make arrests 
for felony and murder, found within the said chase, 
and they were to bring him before the chief forester, 
who held of the chief, lord in fee, by a certain rent 
of an axe and horn ; and he had power to sit in 
judgment on the said felonies and murders, as also 
to execute the office of a coroner, and if the persons 
tried, were found guilty, by the verdict of twelve 
men, thereupon charged and sworn, of the four 
next townships, adjoining unto the place where the 
said felony and murder was done, his head was to 
be struck off with the forester's axe, at a place cal- 
led Sewet Oaks, within the said Chase, where they 
always sat in judgment on such persons, and the 
body was to be carried to the height of Malvern 
hill, to a place called Baldeyate, and there to be 
hung upon a gallows, and so to remain, unless li- 
cense were granted by the chief forester to take it 
-down ; which power of judgment extended from 
a certain place called Charmey's Pool, upon the 
southern part, to a certain place, called Gowelfyate, 
upon the northern part ; and in breadth, from a way 
called the Roadway, to the height of Malvern hill. 
Beneath the said roadway, as far as the franchise 
of Hanley extended, the power and authority of 
sitting on judgment on felony and murder, and of 
executing the office of a coroner, belonged to the 
-constable of the castle of Hanley. The person ac- 



118 CHASE. 



cused, was to be brought before the steward at Han- 
ley, and there indicted, and if found guilty, he 
was to be executed at a certain place called Ryd- 
degreen, within the said franchise and liberty of 
Hanley. There were also certain verdurers, view- 
ers, and riders, which by their tenure and holding 
of land, had power to ride and perambulate the 
ground, soil, and townships, of every lord, from the 
aforesaid Charmey's pool, to Powyk-bridge and 
Braunce-ford ^bridge, to oversee the highways and 
water-courses, and to take care that the wood hedg- 
es adjoining to the chase, be lawfully made for the 
preservation of the deer. Also, for the hombling 
of the dogs, the said viewers and riders were to 
have the oversight and the correction thereof, twice 
every seven years, and such manner of dogs as 
were found unlawful, that is to say, as could not be 
drawn through a certain sterop of eighteen inches 
and a barley corn in length and breadth ; the far- 
ther joints of the two middle claws were to be cut 
clean away, and the master and owner of the dogs 
were to be amerced 3s. Id. As many as were free 
suitors unto the aforesaid lordship of Hanley, were 
to be arbiters, and had power to reform the hom- 
age, and the twelve men at every law day, and oth- 
er courts, in all such matters as were done by them 
wrongfully and unlawfully to any of them and their 
tenants, dwelling in the said chase ; and the said, 
homage and jury of twelve men, were to be order- 
ed and reformed by the said free suitors, according 
to law and reason. Lastly, if need required, the 
said free suitors were to be of counsayle at the said 
law-day, and other courts with the aforesaid horn- 



CHASE. 119 



age, and they and their tenants, dwelling within the 
chase, were to have the same freedoms and liberties 
with the tenants and inhabitants of the lordship of 
Hanley. Chiefly from Dr. Nash's Collections for 
a History of Worcestershire. See further docu- 
ments relating to this chase, introduction lxxiii. 



120 



WALKS AND DRIVES, 

AT MALVERN AND IT'S VICINITY. 



Most of the early Walks upon Malvern Hills, 
originated from the influence and exertions of Mr. 
Samuel Deykes, whom we have had occasion to 
mention before as an anxious labourer, in promot- 
ing the prosperity of Malvern. To benefactors of 
more recent date, we offer our tribute of thanks ; 
to the Countess of Harcourt, Lord and Lady Gren- 
ville, General Buchanan, and to the patrons of the 
walks on Malvern Hills generally. To General 
Buchanan, the inhabitants and visiters of Malvern 
Hills, are particularly indebted, for his solicitude, 
liberality, and taste, in forming and improving the 
walks round the Worcestershire Beacon and North 
Hill; by which the ascent is greatly facilitated. We 
would award too our meed of thanks for that easy 
access to Harcourt Tower, which has been afford- 
ed to the visiter, by his enlargement of some, and 
making other additional walks. The route which 
he has traced is rich in magnificent scenery. We 
have the pleasure of recording the benevolence of 
the Countess of Harcourt, to whom Malvern and 
Malvern Wells are greatly indebted, for her public 
spirit, her taste, and exertions, in making the path 
to the hills accessible to invalids ; for the forma- 
tion of many picturesque and beautiful walks; and 



WALKS AND DRIVES. 121 



■****•******'****■ 



for her ladyship's aid in the renovation of the 
church. When Lady Harcourt first visited Malv- 
ern, there was scarcely a walk to the top of the hills, 
and those that were in existence, led to uninterest- 
ing parts. But since she has honoured this place 
annually by her presence, many miles of road have 
been cut from the Well House, round the hills, to 
St. Ann's Well, and round the beautiful Camp Hill, 
at her expense. 

" In planning these roads and walks," says her 
ladyship, (in a letter to Mr. Chambers, when he 
was writing his History of Malvern, in answer to 
one requesting information relative to the walks, 
&c.) " I owe the place much for the health it has 
procured me." But in order to convince us that 
selfish gratification was not alone her ladyship's mo- 
tive, we learn that so anxious is Lady Harcourt, 
that the seats and the rough stone buildings which 
she has erected, should remain after her death, for 
the benefit of the visiters of Malvern, that her la- 
dyship has left in the hands of Mr Hornyhold and 
Mr. Bright, the sum of one hundred pounds, the 
interest of which, after her decease, is to be applied 
to the preservation of those seats and walks, which 
have been her delight to form and embellish. It is 
with the utmost detestation and regret, that we no- 
tice the malicious and unprecedented wickedness 
of some evil-disposed persons, who wilfully set fire 
to the alcove and seats. To perpetuate their ab- 
horrence of the act and to bear testimony to her 
ladyship's goodness, the inhabitants and visiters 
caused the following inscription to be placed in an 
alcove on the Malvern Hills. 
9 



122 WALKS AND DRIVES. 

* * * j **■** *.* +* .** 



INSCRIPTION 

placed in an Alcove 
ON 

THE MALVERN HILLS; 



PERGVLA. AC. SEDIBVS. 
QVAS. 

CLARISSIMA. DOMINA. MARIA COMITISSA, 
HARCOVRT. 

IN. VSVM. ORAMBVLANTIVM. 

IN. SALVBERRIMO. VERTICE. 

HORVM. AMOENISSIMORVM. COLL1VM. 

EREXERAT. 

HYEME. NOVISSIMA. 

MALIGNE. CONCREMATIS. 

HAS. 

VICINI. INCOLAE, FREQVENTATORESQVE. LOCI, 

NE. SINGVLARE. BENEFICIVM. 

NOBILIS. FOEMINAE. 

CVJVS. 

PIETATEM. LIBERALITATEM. ET. BENIGNITATE5T. 

JUGA- MONTIVM, HVMILESQVE. VALLES. 

CIRCVNQVAQVE. TESTANTVR. 

MEMORIA. SENSIM. EXCIDERET. 

GRATO. ANIMO. 

INSTAVR. ET. RESTI1V 

C. C 

MENSE. AVGVSTO. 

MDCCCXXI. 



WALKS AND DRIVES. 123 



TRANSLATION 

of a Latin Inscription, placed in an Alcove upon the 

MALVERN HILLS. 



THE ALCOVE AND SEATS, 

WHICH 

THE NOBLE LADY 

MARY COUNTESS HARCOURT, 

HAD ERECTED 

UPON THE SALUBRIOUS SUMMIT OF THESE DELIGHTFUL HILLS, 

FOR THE ACCOMMODATION OF PERAMBULATORS, 

HAVING BEEN 

DURING THE LAST WINTER, 

MALIGNANTLY DESTROYED BY FIRE ; 

THE NEIGHBOURING INHABITANTS AND VISITERS 

OF THE SPOT, 

FEARING LEST THIS MARK OF SINGULAR BENEVOLENCE 

FROM THAT EXCELLENT LADY, 

TO WHOSE 

CHARITY, LIBERALITY AND BENIGNITY, 

THE HIGHEST HILLS AND HUMBLEST VALLIES, EVERY WHERE 

AROUND, 

BEAR AMPLE TESTIMONY, 

SHOULD BY TIME BE EFFACED FROM MEMORY, 

HAVE 

WITH GRATEFUL FEELINGS, 

CAUSED THE SAME TO BE RESTORED, 

IN THE MONTH OF AUGUST, 

1921. 



124 



W A L K 

to the 

WORCESTERSHIRE BEACON 



From the Library proceed to the foot of the Hill. 
by Ash-Grove 4 , on the Zig-zag Path 3 , to the Well 
House 5 , above which is St. Ann's Walk, as repre- 
sented in the sketch by number 6 conducting to the 
summit of the HilP. 



125 



OB JECTS 

from the 

WORCESTERSHIRE BEACON. 



The toil is o'er ! Thou soul within me shout ! 

Now on the Beacon's towering head I stand. 

O what a vast variety of forms ! 

The world in miniature ! Trees, hills and dales, 

tjlist'ning with countless sun-beams; while high heaven 

Assumes an aspect more magnificent, 

So throng'd with all unutterable things ! 

How bright the scene ! 
Now the low cots appear, the distant hills, 
The fertile plains, far stretch'd on every side ; 
While all the vast variety of forms 
In yonder sunny vale, tranquil and fair, 
O'erpower my ravish'd senses. What a sweep 
For mortal eye. Trees of a hundred years, 
From this huge mount appear like tender sprays, 
And mock the toil to separate ; while flocks 
And scatter'd herds, so faintly meet my sight, 
They seem not living things. The goodly view, 
Makes my eyes swim with rapture, and my heart 
Feel ecstacy. 

Ah ! who could stand unmov'd 
And view this blue expanse, this beauteous scene : S 

'T is a sight methinks, 
No eye might contemplate and not adore 
The hand that made it! 

COTTLE'S MALVERN. 

Upon the highest altitude of the Worcestershire 
Beacon, a complete horizon is presented ; not an 
obstacle intervenes to intercept a survey of that 
immensity of space, which, in one point, is almost 
without a parallel. 

After admiring these wonderful works of creation 
in a general prospect, we would draw your atten- 
tion to particular spots, and point out those which 
appear to possess the greatest interest. 



126 WORCESTERSHIRE BEACON 



The following figures refer to the Panoramic Sketch. 

1. We begin, therefore, with Worcester, 
(eight miles north-east of Malvern) as the first 
point ; of which, a brief description will be here- 
after given in an excursion. 

2. Passing to the right, the sight of Perry 
Wood, near Worcester, brings to our recollection, 
the memorable battle fought between King Charles 
the second, and Oliver Cromwell, September 3d, 
1651. It was drawing towards evening, when the 
King, with the dukes of Buckingham and Hamil- 
ton, Lord Grandison, Sir Alexander Forbes, and 
others of the nobility, marched with the main body 
of the army, through Sidbury-gate, to make an 
unexpected attack on the whole line of the enemy. 
The contest was desperate for four hours. The 
slaughter was so great, that the blood ran through 
the streets. The heat of the action lay to the east- 
ern side of the city, the chief slaughter being be- 
tween Perry-wood and the Commandry. In the 
beginning, victory seemed to favour the cause of 
the royalists, but this success was only momentary. 
The duke of Hamilton, who behaved with aston- 
ishing bravery, having his horse shot under him, 
and soon after, fighting at the head of his men, was 
dangerously wounded, and was carried to the Com- 
mandry, where he died. The King used every ef- 
fort to persuade his men to renew the charge, but 
all his endeavours were useless ; the royalists were 
overpowered, and Charles was seen to ride away, 
on which the whole army retreated in great disor- 
der towards Sidbury-gate. At this gate, which 



WORCESTERSHIRE BEACON. 127 



was rather narrow, the King would certainly have 
been taken by Cromwell's cavalry, who were close 
at his heels, had not one of the inhabitants thrown 
a great load of hay into the gate- way, which block- 
ed it up, so that no horse could enter. The King, 
who was at a very short distance before his ene- 
mies, dismounted, and creeping under the hay, he 
entered the city on foot ; a cry was made to re- 
mount the King. Mr. William Bagnal, who lived 
in Sidbury, turned out his horse, ready saddled, 
upon which his Majesty fled through St. Martin's 
gate, to Boscobel. 

Thus was a final blow given to all the civil con- 
tests which had long prevailed over different parts 
of Great Britain, 

3. Spetchley, the seat of the Berkley family, 
about eleven miles distant from Malvern, and three 
miles east of Worcester ; where, on the 28th of 
August, 1651, Cromwell fixed his head-quarters 
previous to the battle of Worcester. 

4. Kempsey is a beautiful village, lying three 
miles due south from Worcester. Here was a 
Monastery, founded in the year 799, under Abbot 
Balthum. There is an ancient camp near the 
church. The white sails of the windmill near the 
village, are distinctly seen. 

5. In the fore ground, is Maddersfield, the 
seat of Earl Beauchamp, three miles from Mal- 
vern. 

6. Bernard's-green, extends about a mile and 
a half, upon which are many good houses. The 
drive along the green is very fine ; the distance 
from the village is about two miles. 



128 WORCESTERSHIRE BEACON. 



6.^ Sherard's-green, a short distance from 
Bernard's-green. 

7. Blackmore-Park, the seat of Thomas Hor- 
nyhold, Esq., situated about two miles from Mal- 
vern. 

8. Rhydd, where Sir Anthony Lechmere, and 
several other gentlemen reside ; from Malvern four 
miles. 

9. Drips-hill, is the country residence of Sir 
Charles Trubshaw Withers. The coppice is very 
conspicuous, upon a little mount, the distance four 
miles. 

10. Croome-House, the seat of the Earl of 
Coventry, is situated about eight miles from Wor- 
cester, and thirteen miles from Malvern, by the 
way of Upton. In the pleasure-ground, you can 
clearly see from Malvern, the elegant Doric Tem- 
ple. 

11. Pirton Pool, in Croome park, which might 
claim the appellation of a lake, as it covers fifty 
acres of land. 

12. In the very furthest distance, but easily per- 
ceptible to the naked eye, is Littleton-Hill, 
about eight miles north-east of Evesham. 

13. Michelton Hill, about seven miles south- 
east of Evesham. 

14. In the extreme distance, is Edge Hill, four- 
teen miles south of Warwick. Upon the descent 
of the hill was fought, one of the most signal of the 
battles, during the contest between Charles the first 
and the parliament, September 2d, 1642 ; in which 
it is said, five or six thousand were killed ; among 
them, were several of the nobility. Night prevented 



WORCESTERSHIRE BEACON. 129 



great slaughter. The King took Banbury castle. 
It is a singular coincidence, that at one point of 
view, you can see where the first and last battles 
were fought in this direful contest. 

15. Between this hill and Bredon Hill, lies the 
fertile Vale of Evesham, situated in a peninsula, 
formed by the river Avon. A wall is extended 
from the end of the bridge, upon the Evesham side, 
nearly in a direct line across the peninsula, sepa- 
rating the buildings of the abbey from the town. 
This wall still remains, and shews the precincts of 
the abbey. Egwin the third, bishop of Worcester, 
was the founder. Tradition tells us, that he hav- 
ing obtained of Ethelbald, king of Mercia, some 
woodlands, in the vale of Evesham, his swineherd, 
coves, looking after a sow, met the Virgin Mary, 
accompanied by two other beautiful virgins, hold- 
ing a book and chanting. The report of this visi- 
on coming to the bishop, he hastened to the spot, 
and as he prayed there, was favoured with the like 
appearance. Encouraged thereby to fulfil a vow 
he had formerly made, to build a church, he relat- 
ed his vision to Kenred king of the Mercians, and 
Offa, son to the King of the East Angles, and ob- 
tained from them a grant of land situated upon the 
banks of the river Avon. Enriched by these and 
some other donations, Egwin founded the monas- 
tery, and dedicated it to the blessed Virgin. Egwin 
having resigned his bishopric, became the first Ab- 
bot. Nor was he less active in promoting the wel- 
fare of the house afterwards ; for in the year 714, 
it was possessed of twenty-two towns. He died in 
717, and was buried there. Two parish churches, 



130 WORCESTERSHIRE BEACON, 






with an old gate-way, are the only visible remains 
of this splended abbey. The arms of this abbey, 
were a horse-lock, alluding to the old legend of 
the founder, going to Rome, on account of the 
sins of his youth, with his legs chained and fasten- 
ed with a horse-lock ; the key of which, he threw 
into the sea, declaring that he would not be releas- 
ed, till God, by a miracle, had declared the forgive- 
ness of his sins. As he was returning to the Eng- 
lish shore, a fish jumped into the boat, and in it's 
belly was found the key. Others say he bought 
the fish at Rome. [Nash's Worcestershire.] Eve- 
sham is memorable also, on account of the battle 
fought in it's vicinity, upon the 4th of August, 1263, 
between Simon Monlford, Earl of Leicester, and 
Prince Edward, afterwards King Edward the first. 
In this decisive engagement, Leicester, with almost 
all the barons, who had taken up arms against the 
King, fell, leaving the gallant Edward, the honour 
of restoring his father, Hen ry the third, to the throne 
of his ancestors. To the left of Bredon, you find 
Mean Hill, the next is Dover Hill, distinguishable 
by a clump of firs upon the top. To the north-east 
of Evesham, are the three small villages of North, 
South, and Middle Littleton. 

16, Pershore is a market town, pleasantly sit- 
uated upon the bank of the Avon. It is said to 
derive it's name from the abundance of pear-trees 
which grow in it's vicinity ; it's distance is seven- 
teen miles east from Malvern. 

17. To the south-west of Pershore, seventeen 
miles, is Bredon, signifying, a place at the foot of 
a hill ; formerly the seat of a monastery, founded 



WORCESTERSHIRE BEACON. 131 



about the year 716, by Eanwulf, grandfather to 
Offa, king of the Mercians. This house subsisted 
under an abbot, till after the year 841 ; but some 
time before the conquest, it became part of the 
possession of the bishopric of Worcester. Upon 
the hills which rise above the village, is an ancient 
Camp, surrounded by a double ditch. This is one 
of the fortifications supposed to be constructed 
during the contest between the Saxons and Danes. 

18. Further to the east, is Broadway Hill, 
distance from Pershore, thirteen miles, which is 
much intercepted by Bredon Hill; yet it com- 
mands no inconsiderable notice. Upon the top is 
a very high tower, built to survey the extensive 
prospect, by the late Lady Coventry. 

19. In the nearer view you find Hanley, seven 
miles from Malvern. 

20. A little to the west, but at a shorter distance, 
you observe Upton ; distance nine miles. The 
Bridge across the Severn is very perceptible. This 
river rises in Plinlimmon Hill, in Montgomery- 
shire. Flowing first across Montgomeryshire, it 
enters Shropshire, and is navigable in it's whole 
course through this county. It enters Worcester- 
shire a little above Bewdley, which town it divides 
from Wribbenhall. A little below Stourport, it 
receives the Stour, and runs, with a swift current, 
close to the city of Worcester. About a mile be- 
low, the Severn receives the Teme, which rises in 
Radnorshire. Hence it runs to Kempsey, and be- 
fore it reaches Upton, many brooks and rills fall 
into it, from Powick, Lye, Sinton and Madders- 
field. The brooks which rise upon the Malvern 



.132 WORCESTERSHIRE BEACON 



Hills, run into it by Blackmore-Park, near Sev- 
ern-end, the seat of Sir Anthony Lechmere. From 
Upton, it passes on by Pull Court, to Bushley. 
Quitting Worcestershire at Tewkesbury, it enters 
Gloucestershire. At Newnham, it widens consid- 
erably. Entering the sea, it's mouth is called the 
Bristol Channel. This river has a communication 
with the Thames, the Trent, the Dee, and the Mer- 
sey, by different canals. Through irregular and 
unlawful fishing, this river has lost great part of it's 
breed of fish, and depends chiefly upon such as 
come from the sea, and return at stated periods; 
the principal are the Salmon, the Lamprey and 
Lampern. The Salmon was formerly so plentiful 
in the river, that when people bound their chil- 
dren apprentices, they had a clause inserted, that 
the master should not feed them with salmon, 
above twice a week. Severn salmon, early in the 
season, now sells from four shillings to five shil- 
lings per pound. Although the river Avon, at it's 
mouth near Tewkesbury, exactly resembles the 
Severn, yet no Salmon, Lamprey, or Lampern, 
ever mistake their course or go up the Avon. The 
Lampern is to the Lamprey, what the Craw fish is 
to the Lobster ; it resembles it much, both in shape 
and taste ; though epicures say it is not so firm or 
rich. 

21. 21. 21. The course of the Severn. 

22. We now reach that interesting spot, 
Tewkesbury. It can be easily discovered to the 
right of Upton. According to tradition, this town 
derives it's name from Theocus, a recluse, who liv- 
ed about the end of the seventh century, and 



WORCESTERSHIRE BEACON. 



erected a chapel on the banks of the Severn, near 
this place ; or, according to others, from Odo and 
Dodo, the first Saxon lords of the manor. The 
town is almost surrounded by water ; the accesses 
to it are by three bridges ; that over the Avon is 
a considerable stone structure. The most remark- 
able public building in this town, is the Church, 
founded by Odo and Dodo, brothers and dukes of 
Mercia, on their own estate, at Tewkesbury, 
dedicated to the Virgin Mary. They died about 
the year 725, and were buried at Pershore. In 
1102, Robert Fitz-Hamon, who came over with 
William the Conqueror, became baron of Tewkes- 
bury, rebuilt the church, and advanced it to an ab- 
bey. The architecture is much admired. The 
ohurch is built in the form of a cross, upon the in- 
tersection of which stands the tower, supported by 
four arches, and is a most magnificent and beauti- 
ful edifiee. From it's massive, cylindrical pillars, 
semicircular arches, zig-zag mouldings, and other 
decorations, it appears to be of the Saxon or early 
Norman era. The tower is in the same style, ex- 
cept the pinnacles, which were added about the 
commencement of the last century. The dimen- 
sions of this venerable pile of building are as 
follow : 

FEET. 

Length, from east to west, 300 

Length of the great cross aisle, 120 

Breadth of the choir and side aisle, .... 70 

Breadth of the west front, 100 

Height from the area to the roof, 120 

Height of the tower, 132 

The usual entrance is on the northern side, 



134 WORCESTERSHIRE BEACON. 



through a lofty and spacious portal, over which is 
a mutilated image of the Virgin Mary. The arch 
which forms the western entrance is singularly 
beautiful and much admired. The area consists of 
a grand principal aisle, or nave, a transept, cross 
aisle, and two spacious side aisles, separated from 
the nave by two massive pillars. There is also a 
handsome semicircular aisle surrounding the chan- 
cel, from the northern to the southern ends of the 
transept, in which are the vestry and some gothic 
tombs of splendid execution. In the southern 
wall, near the vestry door, is the tomb of Alan, 
one of the abbots of this monastery, the friend and 
biographer of Thomas a Becket, who died in the 
year 1202. The body is deposited in a coffin of 
purbeck marble, laid under a very plain semiqua- 
trefoil arch. This coffin was opened in 1795. 
When the lid was taken off, the body appeared 
surprisingly perfect, considering it had lain there 
nearly 600 years, and the folds of the drapery were 
very distinct ; but from being exposed to the air, 
the whole very soon crumbled away, and left little 
more than a skeleton. The boots, however, still 
retained their form, and a certain degree of elasti- 
city, hanging in large folds about the legs. This 
church has been rendered memorable by the oc- 
currences which took place in it's precincts. Here 
lie the bones of those who fell in the battle fought 
on the 4th of May, 1471, between the rival houses 
of York and Lancaster. The local memorials of 
this decisive battle are few. History informs us, 
that the principal scenes of the action, and the 
chief place of slaughter was in the meadow, which 



WORCESTERSHIRE BEACON. J 35 



has received the appellation of " Bloody," and the 
vineyard near the church. The former lies be- 
tween two gently descending banks, about half a 
mile south-west of the town ; the latter was the 
place where Queen Margaret's army passed the 
night. Some of the entrenchments may yet be 
traced. On the northern side of the church, un- 
der an arch, is the effigy of Lord WenlocJc, who 
was killed by the duke of Somerset in the battle. 
Under the tower is a brass plate, to perpetuate the 
memory of the unfortunate Edward, Prince of 
Wales, (only son of King Henry the sixth,) who, 
when he was asked by the conqueror, Edward the 
fourth, after the battle, wherefore he took up arms, 
gallantly replied, " I have taken up arms to re- 
venge my father's injuries, and assert my own 
rights." The barbarous Edward, enraged at his 
intrepidity, struck him on the mouth with his 
gauntlet, and this served as a signal for further 
brutality ; the dukes of Gloucester, and Clarence, 
and others, like wild beasts, rushed on the unarmed 
youth at once, and stabbed him to the heart with 
their daggers. Tewkesbury is an ancient bo- 
rough, governed by twenty -four burgesses. It 
sends two members to parliament. 

23. The next elevation is Cleave Hill, com- 
monly called Cleave Cloud, lying four miles to the 
left of Cheltenham. About four miles to the right, 
is Leckhampton Hill, formed of free rock. It 
is easily distinguished by it's whiteness. 

24. Near the last object, are clearly perceived 
the houses, smoke, and church-spire of Chelten- 
ham ; a name derived from the brook Chelt. 



loo WORCESTERSHIRE BEACON. 



which runs near the town, on it's way to the Sev- 
ern ; or from the Saxon words Chilt and Ham ; 
the former an elevated place, the latter a home or 
village. The name of Cheltenham is become as fa- 
miliar in the British East and West Indies, as in 
London . This celebrity has arisen from it's health- 
yielding springs, and the salubrity of the air. It 
is situated in 51 deg. 51 min. north latitude, and 
2 deg. 5 min. west longitude, and has been usually 
described as being in the Vale of Evesham ; but as 
there is no natural division between this valley and 
that part of Gloucestershire denominated « The 
Vale,' the whole district might, with greater pro- 
priety, be included in the more comprehensive 
appellation of < The Vale of the Severn.' The 
town is guarded from the chilling blasts of the 
northern and eastern winds, by the chain of the 
Coteswold hills, which form an ample bow. Upon 
the other side are the Malvern hills, and in the 
distance are seen the Welch mountains, the cloud- 
capped summits of which are lost in the boundless 
horizon. It appears that Cheltenham enjoyed 
considerable privileges as an ancient demesne, du- 
ring the reign of William the Conqueror ; but in 
1 199 it became the sole property of Henry de Bo- 
hun, Earl of Hereford, who afterwards exchanged 
it with King John for other lands. In the year 
1219, the manor and hundred were granted to 
William Long Epee, otherwise, Long Sword, na- 
tural son of Henry the second, by the celebrated 
but unfortunate Fair Rosamond. Long Epee was 
succeeded in his estates by his son William, who, 
joining in the crusading enthusiasm of that barba- 



WORCESTERSHIRE BEACON. 137 



fous era, fell by the hands of the Saracens in the 
Holy Land, leaving issue only one son, who dying 
while an infant, the title became extinct, and fell 
to the crown. The manor and hundred continued 
in the king's possession till the year 1243, when he' 
granted them to Eleanor his queen, in dower. 
Thus, by a singular train of events, were the same 
lands granted to the offspring of his paramour, 
and to his own wife. In 1252, Henry the third 
exchanged the manors and hundreds of Chelten- 
ham and Slaughter, for some lands at Winchelsea 
and Rye, in Sussex, belonging to the abbey of 
Fecamp in Normandy. From this time, to the 
year 1309, in the reign of Edward the second, it 
does not appear to whom it belonged. At that pe- 
riod, John Linnel died, seizin of the manor. We 
next discover it in the possession of the priory of 
Montbury in Normandy, but the lands of Alien 
Monastery, being vested in the crown by act of 
parliament in 1415, the manor and hundred was 
vested in the nunnery of Sion in Middlesex, which 
was situated on the banks of the Thames, between 
Brentford and Isleworth, on the same spot where 
the seat of his grace the duke of Northumberland 
now stands. From Henry the eighth, 1540, to the 
reign of James the first, the manor of Cheltenham 
remained vested in the crown ; but in the fifth year 
of his reign, it was granted to William Dutton, 
esq., from whom it has regularly descended to the 
present lord of the manor, the Right Hon. John 
Dutton, baron, Sherborne. The town is chiefly 
built with brick, cemented ; and the High-street, 
which runs nearly from east to west, is more than 
10 



138 WORCESTERSHIRE BEACON. 



a mile and half in length, and of considerable 
width : it possesses a spacious pavement, and 
usually forms the grand promenade. Before the 
discovery of the spa it was an inconsiderable 
straggling town ; the houses were then principally 
thatched, and their inhabitants generally poor. 
Now numerous streets and villas, on each hand, 
with virandas and areas, resembling those of the 
metropolis, appear. Occasionally, however, a 
few old dwellings obtrude on the eye, to lemind 
us of its former simplicity. Nearly in the centre 
and on the south side of the town, stands the 
Church, a venerable and spacious building in the 
form of a cross. It consists of a transept and 
two aisles: it is adorned with an elegant octangu- 
lar spire, containing a musical set of chimes and 
eight bells. The beautiful circular window, divided 
into thirty-three Gothic compartments, and fifteen 
feet in diameter, has been often noticed. A handsome 
antique Altar-Piece, presented by the Dean and 
Chapter of Gloucester, has been lately introduced 
into the church. A large and fine-toned Organ 
has also been erected. This edifice was built in 
1011, in which there was formerly a chantry, but 
it is now fallen to decay. The Rectory is an 
impropriation with the Deanery of Winchcomb, 
and originally belonged to the Nunnery of Sion. 
In 1610, it came to Sir Wm Rider, and it is now 
the property of the Earl of Sussex. The rapid 
increase of the population requiring an additional 
church, a grant of £4000 in exchequer bills, has 
been obtained from Government, towards its erec- 
tion. The building, which is situated at the bottom 



WORCESTERSHIRE BEACON. 139 



of Portland-street, we may assert is excelled by 
few modern churches in the kingdom. The Quak- 
er's Meeting- Ho use is in Manchester Place, and 
will contain 200 persons Cheltenham Chapel was 
built in 1809, and is capable of containing 1000 
persons. The approach to the buildings are from 
the High-street and St. George's Place. The Ca- 
tholic Chapel, situated in Somerset Place, was 
opened in the year 1810, and is capable of con- 
taining 300 persons. Ebenezer Chapel stands on 
the western side of King-street ; it was opened in 
the year 1813, and is constructed for the accom- 
modation of a large congregation ; it was erected 
by the Wesleyan Methodists at the public expense 
of that body. Countess of Huntingdon's Chapel, 
is situated at the end of North Place, and was 
finished in the year 1816. The building is about 
67 feet long by 47 wide, and is capable of contain- 
ing 800 persons. Under the chapel is a school 
room, 50 feet by 36, and 10 feet high; also four 
dwelling rooms ; the whole was built at the sole 
expence of Robert Capper, Esq. of Marie Hill. 
The Walk leading to the Well may be said to com- 
mence from the south-west gate of the church-yard, 
a short street leads to the Crescent, and thence to 
the river Chelt, over which a cast iron bridge is 
thrown, to connect it with the public walks. 
Crossing the iron bridge, we enter the Well-walk, 
which is a magnificent gravelled promenade, twenty 
feet wide, shaded by a fine avenue of elms. From 
the commencement of this charming promenade 
to the original spa, is a distance of nearly 600 feet. 
The spa owes its discovery to a slow spring being 



140 VTORCESTERSH1RE BEACON. 

observed to oozeirom a strong thick bluish clay or 
mould, under the sandy surface of the soil, which, 
after spreading itself a few yards, again disap- 
peared, leaving much of its salts behind. Flocks 
of pigeons being daily observed to resort thither 
to feed on these salts, Mr. Mason, then proprietor 
of the spot, was induced to examine it with more 
attention, and soon remarked, that when other 
springs were fast bound by the frost, this continued 
in a fluid state. Originally the ground belonged 
to Mr. Higgs, of Charlton Kings, who, ignorant 
of the treasure it contained, sold it to Mr. Mason, 
in 1716. After the death of Mr. Mason and his 
son, Capt. Henry Skillicorne came into possession 
of the spa and premises in 1738, in right of his 
wife, the daughter of the original discoverer. He 
not only built the old room on the western side of 
the pump, for the use of the company, but cleared 
the spring from all extraneous substances, and 
erected a square brick building with four arches 
over it rising in the form of an obelisk. This 
structure now remains. At the same time Capt. 
Skillicorne laid out the paved court that, environs 
it, and planted the trees which now form an agree- 
able shade against the rays of a fervid sun ; besides 
the original spa there is the Montpelier Wells, the 
Hygeia House, the new Sherborne Spa, Alstone 
Spa. The King's Well, and various others have 
sunk into neglect, (chiefly from the interference 
of the author of the Cheltenham Guide). In the 
year 1787 warm and tepid baths were established 
on an excellent plan by Mr. Freeman, No. 61, 
High-street. A little beyond Cambry-street, on 



WORCESTERSHIRE BEACON. 141 

the new Bath-road, and adjoining the laboratory 
for preparing the Cheltenham salts, is Thompson's 
warm and cold mineral and salt water baths, 
Thornton's elegant new baths are situate in Tavi- 
stock Place, near Williams's library. Williams's 
English and Foreign Library is very tastefully and 
elegantly fitted up with a very extensive and well 
selected collection of books, and is the most fashion- 
able and agreeable retreat during the season. Bet- 
tison's Library, No. 384, High-street, has lately 
received an accession of a great number of scarce 
works. Duffield and Weller's Literary Saloon, is 
situated, 495, High-street. Miss Robert's Library 
is in the same street. Besides which, there are 
several Musical and Artist's Repositories in differ- 
ent parts of the town. The new Assembly Rooms 
are large and elegant. The present gentlemanly 
conductor, is C. H. Marshall, Esq. The Tea, 
Club, Billiard, and Reading Rooms, are under 
the superintendance of Messrs. Kelly and Co. The 
Inns and Boarding Houses are very numerous. 
There are three Banks, which open at ten and 
shut at three. 

25. Leckhampton Hill. 

25. The next is Btrdlip-hill, six miles from 
Gloucester, celebrated among travellers as com- 
manding an extensive and beautiful prospect; 
picturesque with woods and villages, fertile mea- 
dows, and splendid seats. The Roman road, 
which leads from the base of the hill to Gloucester, 
is a very striking feature in the scene. 

27. Passing on a little, to the south of Chelten- 
ham the city of Gloucester may without difficulty 



142 WORCESTERSHIRE BEACON. 



be distinguished. Its towers and spires rise with 
considerable majesty, and appear the proud con- 
comitants of an extended domain. In 1£01, the 
city contained 1368 houses and 7599 inhabitants; 
and by the late census in 1821, nearly double that 
number. Tho' it affords a fine object from the hills 
around, it's situation is far from pleasing", for, lost 
in the plain, it partakes of no variety of scenery ; 
and tho' it's walls are washed by the Severn, that 
river, at Gloucester, loses much of it's dignity, by 
being divided into two^ moderate channels, with a 
long connected causeway. The local advantages 
this city offered to the contending parties in the 
several disputes before the Norman conquest be- 
tween the Saxons and Britons, and afterwards 
between the succeeding Kings and Barons, occa- 
sioned many vicissitudes of fortune, as it chanced 
to take sides with the victorious or vanquished 
party, after having been nearly demolished in the 
wars of the sixth and seventh centuries, in the 
eighth it was much enlarged and beautified ; and, 
as the learned Bede informs us, it was esteemed 
one of the noblest cities in the kingdom, and to be 
an honour next to a king, to enjoy the title of Earl 
or Consol, of Gloucester. Other authors tell us, 
that after the Saxon heptarchy fell, about the year 
828, it became a place of great note. In 918, 
this city was instrumental in routing the Danish 
army ; but in the year 978, during the reign of 
Ethelred, the Danes returned and burnt a great 
part of the city. Ethelred having subdued these 
cruel invaders, the houses and other buildings 
that had been damaged by the fire, were re- 
built, and the city again began to flourish. About 



WORCESTERSHIRE BEACON. 143 



1016, there were numerous contentions between 
the English under Edmund (surnamed Ironside) 
and the Danes under Canute ; each had a powerful 
army. Edmund having retreated to Gloucester, 
they met at Deerhurst, four or five miles up the 
river. Edmund challenged Canute to single com- 
bat, which was declined by the latter. At length 
the matter in dispute was settled on a small island 
called Alney, formed by the separation of the 
river into two channels, about a mile above, and 
their conflux at the same distance below the town. 
Edward the Confessor, who succeeded Hardi- 
canute, frequently resided and kept his court here. 
Indeed several of our kings occasionally resided 
at Gloucester. King John, in the first year of his 
reign, made it a borough town, and Henry the 
third was crowned here. During the reign of this 
monarch, it was besieged, and taken in four days 
by the barons. It was, however, soon retaken 
by his son. In the year 1272, Edward the first 
held a parliament here, in which some useful laws 
were made, now called the statutes of Gloucester. 
Richard the second held his parliament here, in 
the year 1378, and Richard the third, in conse- 
quence of bearing the title of the Duke of Glouces- 
ter, before he obtained the crown, added the two 
adjacent hundreds of Dudston and King's-Barton 
to it. But after the restoration, the hundreds 
were taken away, by act of parliament, on account 
of the inhabitants shutting the gates of the city, in 
1643, against. Charles the first, by whom it was 
besieged. The number of houses destroyed during 
the siege, was 241, exclusive of other buildings. 



144 WORCESTERSHIRE BEACON, 



At the restoration, the walls, which anciently sur- 
rounded the city, were completely demolished ; 
so that scarcely a vestige now remains of its ancient 
fortifications ; the last memorial was the west-gate, 
which was taken down a few years ago. It was 
erected and embattled during the reign of Henry 
the eighth, and stood upon the banks of the Severn, 
at the end of a stone bridge of five arches, built 
during the reign of Henry the second. Of the 
Castle of Gloucester, there are no remains, they 
being eradicated a few years ago, to make room 
for the county goal. The Cathedral Church of 
Gloucester is jastly esteemed one of the finest 
specimens of architecture in England, and is alone 
sufficient to repay a traveller's time in visiting Glou- 
cester. This Church originally belonged to the 
Abbey, founded by Wolphere, and Ethelred his 
brother and successor, between the years 680 and 
682. Even the unsparing hand of reformation, 
respected this magnificent structure, converting 
it to the cathedral of the newly-formed see. Suc- 
cessive centuries added to it's architectural splen- 
dour. At present, this structure is a fine example 
of the various styles of Saxon, Norman, and 
English architecture. The tower is 300 feet in 
height, supported by a strong wall at each of the 
four corners, by a slender arch from the east to the 
west side, and a small pillar in the middle. This 
beautiful tower, Bishop Gibson says, is so neat 
and curious, that travellers have affirmed it to be 
one of the best pieces of architecture in England. 
The renowned whispering gallery extends from 
one side of the choir to the other, it is built in the 



WORCESTERSHIRE BEACON. 145 



form of an octagon. If a person whisper at one 
side, every syllable may be heard distinctly on the 
other side, which is twenty-five yards distant. At 
the time the Abbey was surrendered to Henry the 
eighth, its income was estimated at £1946 5s. 9d. 
per annum, according to Dugdale. There are 
twelve churches in Gloucester, besides several 
chapels for different persuasions; namely, the 
Presbyterians, Unitarians, Methodists, Lady Hunt- 
ingdon's Connexion, Baptists, Quakers, Roman 
Catholics, and a Jewish Synagogue. The County 
Hall is a magnificent structure, and presents a spe- 
cimen of architectural perfection highly honourable 
to the taste of Mr. Smirke ; and will remain, to 
after ages, a monument of the enlightened liber- 
ality of the Magistracy of the county and city of 
Gloucester. It is 82 feet in front next West-gate- 
street, and extends backward 300 feet. The Infir- 
mary, at the bottom of South-gate-street, was 
built by voluntary subscription, and opened An 
1755. Here is also a Lunatic Asylum. 

It seems that the forging of iron was once carried 
on here to a considerable extent. The ore was 
dugout of Robin Hood's Hill. A great quantity 
of iron is still buried in the hill, as is evident from 
the strong tinge which is given to the water issuing 
from the Matson side. 

In the year 1625, John Tilsby, who came to 
settle at Gloucester, introduced the art of pin- 
making. Prior to that period, the ladies used fine 
scraped skewers, made of ivory, bone, or box. 
The lower class of people used the prickles of 
thorns to fasten their clothes. The process of the 



146 WORCESTERSHIRE BEACON 



pin manufactory is curious : the article, small as 
it is, passes through twenty-five hands, from its 
first state of rough wire to its being stuck in the 
paper for sale. If we regard the police and inter- 
nal management of this city, no place, perhaps 
will be found, where fewer circumstances occur to 
disturb its repose. Upon the whole, Gloucester 
may certainly claim a considerable rank among the 
principal cities in England. 

28. Near Gloucester, to the south, you descry 
the Coteswold Hills, celebrated in ancient 
verse and rendered famous for games and sports. 

29. Mendip Hills, in Somersetshire. 

30. In the extreme distance can be seen Lands- 
down Hill, near Bath, and further to the right, 

31. The Estuary of the Severn, is visible. 

32. The Herefordshire Beacon, of which 
more is spoken under the chapter, « Ride to 
Hereford Beacon. •? 

33. The Obelisk, erected by Earl Somers, com- 
memorative of the virtues and talents of his family, 
is further noticed in an excursion to Eastnor 
Castle. 

34. May Hill is distinguishable by a clump of 
firs. The peculiar shape of this hill, strikes the 
eye, from whatever point you view it. 

35. Eastnor Castle, the seat of Earl Somers. 

36. To the right of May Hill appears a long 
chain of rising ground, which forms the northern 
boundary of the Forest of Dean. 

37. To the north of this chain of hills, is Pen- 
yard, near Ross. 

38. The situation of Tintern Abbey, a fine 



WORCESTERSHIRE BEACON. 147 



yuin, which will be particularly noticed in our ex- 
cursion down the Wye. 

39. The Kymin, in the vicinity of Monmouth, 
is a remarkable high hill, rising from the banks of 
the Wye, upon the Gloucestershire side of the 
river. 

40. About five miles west of Ledbury lies Mar- 
cly Hill, which in 1575, on the 17th of Feb. 
(according to Dr. Fuller) after shaking and roar- 
ing for three days, to the great horror and astonish- 
ment of the neighbourhood, began to move about 
six o'clock on Sunday evening, and continued 
moving till two next morning ; it then stood still, 
having mounted to a place twelve fathoms higher, 
and carried the trees, sheep-folds, and flocks 
upon it. In the place whence it removed, it left a 
chasm of 400 feet wide, and 320 long. The spot 
whereon this hill stood, contained about twenty 
acres Philips, in his "Cyder," a Poem, thus 
speaks of this wonderful hill : 

" I nor advise, nor reprehend the choice 
Of Marcly Hill; the apple no where finds 
A kinder mould ; yet 'tis unsafe to trust 
Deceitful ground ; who knows but that, once more, 
This mount may journey, and his present site 
Forsaking, to the neighbours' bounds transfer 
The goodly plants, affording matter strange " 

41. Ledbury. See our excursions to this place, 
where the town and vicinity is described. 

42. Near Ledbury is the Bartons, the seat of 
E. Peyton, esq. four miles distant from Great 
Malvern. 

42^. Collwall, a village, two miles and a 
half from Great Malvern, probably derives it's 
name from Collis vallatus, a fortified hill ; since at 



148 WORCESTERSHIRE BEACON, 



a short distance are the remains of one of the 
strongest hill fortresses in the kingdom, designated 
the Hereford Beacon. There is an endowed school 
at Collwall, and the village formerly contained a 
monastery. 

43. In the near distance, you see the situation 
of Hope End, the seat of E. M. Barrel, esq. 

44. Wall Hill, near Ledbury, lies twelve 
miles from Malvern. Upon the summit is a Roman 
Camp ; and upon the north-eastern side of the hill 
is the extensive Manor of Netherwood. The 
mansion is said to have been a noble structure, in 
which was born the great but unfortunate Robert 
Deuereua, Earl of Essex, Queen Elizabeth's fa- 
vourite and victim. 

45. The Skyrrid Vawr. This summit is less 
elevated than the Sugar Loaf, yet it's insulated sit- 
uation, abrupt declivity, and craggy fissures, pro- 
duce effects more sublime and striking than the 
smooth and undulating surface of the Sugar Loaf. 

46. The Blorenge, near the Usk, rises to the 
height of one thousand seven hundred and twenty 
feet. This is one of the mountains which form the 
chain, extending from the confines of Brecon, to 
Ponty, below Ponty Pool. This lengthened moun- 
tain forms the north eastern boundary of the valley, 
called Avon Llwyd. Near the source of this 
stream is Blaenavon, where immense iron works 
are established, which employ upwards of four 
hundred men. This unfrequented district, was 
formerly called the wilds of Monmouth. 

47. The towering cone of the Sugar Loaf 
mountain, near Abergavenny. This elevated point, 



WORCESTERSHIRE BEACON. 149 



rises one thousand eight hundred and fiftytwo feet 
perpendicular, and overtops the summits of four 
other hills. The view from it is magnificent, ex- 
tensive and diversified, commanding ten counties. 
To the west, stretches the long and beautiful vale 
of the Usk, winding in the recesses of the moun- 
tains and extending to the south, into the fertile 
plain which is terminated by the Clytha Hill. — See 
further, Nicholson's Cambrian Guide. 

48. In the extreme distance, is the long line of 
the Black Mountains, sweeping in a semicircu- 
lar direction. 

49. In the nearer distance, you find Stoke 
Edith Park, the seat of Edward Foley, esq. 
which is further noticed in an account of Noble- 
men and Gentlemen's seats. 

50. At a further distance is the ancient city of 
Hereford, the etymology of which name is im- 
perfectly known. It is conjectured that it 
arose from "Here is a Ford." Hereford in the 
Saxon language, signifies the Ford of an Army. 
Perhaps the place was so called on account of the 
river being there frequently forded by the Saxon 
troops. About the year 584 Hereford seems to 
have been a place of importance : for soon after, 
its Bishop is said to be one of the seven British 
Prelates, who attended the Synod of St. Augus- 
tine, which was convened in the year 601. Wal- 
phere, the fifth King of Mercia, who began his 
reign in the year 659, extended his dominions as 
far as the Wye. At this time, Hereford seems first 
to have become subject to the government of the 



150 WORCESTERSHIRE BEACON 



Saxons, and made part of the Kingdom of Mercia, 
In the next reign it was made the see of a Saxon 
Bishop ; in 756, Offa, the eleventh King of Mer- 
cia, removed the boundary of the Saxon dominions, 
considerably beyond Hereford, which relieved the 
place from the continual alarms to which it had 
been subject during the time it was a barrier town. 
A circumstance happened that increased the fame 
and importance of Hereford ; Offa, having agreed 
to conditions of marriage between his daughter 
Elfrida and Eihelbert, King of the East Angles, 
when this young prince came over to complete the 
nuptials, queen Quendreda, in order to obtain his 
kingdom, cootrary to the laws of hospitality and 
humanity, contrived to have him murdered. The 
body of the prince, by the command of Offa, was 
buried at Marden, a place not far distant ; where 
a well is said to have miraculously sprung up, 
which is called to this day, St. Ethelbert's well. 
Offa afterwards caused the body to be removed to 
the Cathedral at Hereford, and as an expiation of 
his crime, and testimony of repentance, gave very 
rich gifts to the church, and erected a magnificent 
tomb to the memory of Eihelbert, who was shortly 
after canonized, and great miracles were said to be 
performed at his tomb. It brought a great number 
of pilgrims to visit his shrine, who by their contri- 
butions enriched the city. In the year 1055, 
Gryffydd, a sovereign of Wales, and Algar earl 
of Chester, with a large army, entered the city, 
whereon a dreadful carnage ensued, and the ca- 
thedral was burnt. In continued in ruins till about 
the year 1079. when Robert de Soocing, or Soxinga, 



WORCESTERSHIRE BEACON. .151 



/\A/*/^/^/^i 



was made bishop of Hereford, by William the 
Conqueror, and soon after commenced a new 
structure on the model of the church of Aken, now 
Aix-la-Chapelle, in Germany. The central tower 
was built about a century after ; further alterations 
were made at subsequent periods. The cathedral, 
tho' deprived of much of it's venerable appear- 
ance, by the fall of the west front, in the year 
1786, still stands pre-eminently conspicuous. The 
exterior parts are very dissimilar in appearance. 
This defect has been added to, by new incongru- 
ous architecture. 'Tis unfortunate, that this ven- 
erable structure, should have been despoiled by 
depravity of taste. The interior of the cathedral 
is still very interesting, tho' it's former venerable 
appearance, has been greatly destroyed, by wan- 
ton alterations, and by the removal of various se- 
pulchral memorials, painted glass, &c. Besides 
the cathedral, Hereford has four churches and 
several chapels for dissenters. There were several 
monasteries and religious houses at Hereford, be- 
fore the reformation ; namely, St. Ethel bert's Be- 
nedictine Monastry, which was incorporated with 
the cathedral ; a College of Grey Friars, St. Cuth- 
bert's Chapel, and Black Friar's Monastry ; this 
was the largest and most celebrated. Hereford has 
a great number of charitable establishments. There 
are no less than ten hospitals and alms-houses, se- 
veral of them have their revenues arising from 
houses, or lands, the rents of which are improve- 
able, and the allowances are increased as the im- 
provements are made. The Free- School is endowed 
with some exhibitions at each of the universities. 



152 WORCESTERSHIRE BEACON- 

Many persons of considerable eminence have been 
born in this city ; among those who have been most 
distinguished, are Eleanor Gwynn, and David 
Garrick, esq. This city is seated upon the Wye, 
over which river is an ancient stone bridge. 

51. Lady-Lift, is a lofty promontory, wrapped 
in wood and crowned with firs. 

52. Robin Hood's Butts. 

53. Hargist Ridge, near Kington. 

54. The Warren Mountains. 

55. Bromyard is not seen, it's situation only is 
marked. 

56. To the right of Bromyard is Brockh amp- 
ton, the seat of John Barnaby, esq. 

57. A little further to the west, is Edgedon Hill. 

58. Radnor Forest, rises immediately from the 
north of the town of Radnor, to a very considera- 
ble height. From the prominent part of this emi- 
nence, are very extensive prospects. 

59. Ankerdine Hill. 

60. The Clee Hills, in Shropshire. 

61. In the near distance are Clifton Firs. 

62. Further to the north, in the extreme dis- 
tance, is the Wrekin, craggy at the top, and 
rising alone from the middle of the plain. It's 
figure very exactly resembles a whale, asleep upon 
the sea. It's height is reckoned about one thou- 
sand two hundred feet. The prospect from the 
summit, is not only extensive, but amazingly fine. 
Round the top are the traces of a British camp, 
capable of containing twenty thousand men. It 
is not certainly known upon what hill in Shrop- 
shire, Caraclacm, king of the Britons, was en- 



WORCESTERSHIRE BEACOtf. 15< 



camped, when, conquered by Ostorius, the Roman 
general. There is great probability of it's being 
this. 

63. Abberley Hill, near Witley, the seat of 
Lord Foley. 

64. Woodbury Hill. 

65. The North Hill, in the Malvern chain. 

66. The Clent Hills. 

67. The hill called Bromsgrove Lickey, is the 
last object referred to, till you observe Worcester, 
where we first begun our panoramic survey. 

A walk or a ride to the Beacon will take two 
hours. 



11 



154 



NUMBER8 REFERRING 

TO THE 

PANORAMIC SKETCH, 

WITH THE NAMES OF PLACES. 



1 Worcester. 

2 Perry Wood. 

3 Spetchley. 

4 Kempsey. 

5 Maddersfield. 

6 Bernard's Green. 
6* Sherard's Green. 

7 Blackraore Park. 

8 Rhydd. 

9 Dripshill. 

10 Croome. 

11 PirtonPooI. 
IS Littleton Hill. 

13 Mickelton Hill. 

14 Edge Hill. 

15 Vale of Evesham. 

16 Pershore. 

17 BredonHill. 

18 Broadway Hill. 

19 Hanley 

20 Upton. 

21 21, 21, Severn. 

22 Tewkesbury, 

23 Cleave Hill. 

24 Cheltenham. 

25 Leckhampton Hill. 

26 Birdlip Hill. 

27 Gloucester 

28 Coteswold Hills, extending to 

Bredon. 

29 Mendip Hills. 

30 Lansdown, near Bath. 
SI Estuary of the Severn* 
32 Herefordshire Beacon. 



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•suiH ^aiaaqqy S9 

UPP-»AV aqi S9 

•sji^uoyiio 19 

•sillH ^10 09 

'lUH anipjanay 69 

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•UIHHopaSpa t5 

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•surejunoj\[ uajJB^\ f-g 

•uojSai^ xeau 4 a2pig jsiSjbjj gq 

•s^ng s t pooH uiqo^j gg 

•piOJ9J3H 05 

•3IJBJ qjipg ajpDis 6fr 

•SUIB|Unopj 5[DB[a g£ 

•jBoq jbShs At 

•aSuajoig 9f 

•jmba pujiC^s qfr 

•Xanq 

■p»7 JB3U draBQ niH ll^M. tv 

•pug adoji jo uorjunjis g* 

•HBAiioo *g^ -suo^Jua 3MX St 

•iCinqpaq ^ 

•sniH ^lareft Of- 

•iCaqqy ujajmx jo uopenjig 8S 

•jsajog pjBiCuaj j,g 

•nuaa jo jssjo g gg 

•orjsBQ joujsBg gg 

- 1I!H**W *g 
•3jsi[3qo gg 



65 North Hill. 

66* Dudley Church and Castle. 

66 Clent Hills. 

6*7 Bromsgrove Lickey. 



155 



FOLEY TERRACE WALK. 28 

This spacious walk was made by order and at 
the expence of Edward Foley, esq. of Stoke Edith 
Park, for the accommodation of those visiters 
whose strength does not permit them to ascend the 
higher part of the hills. This road commences 
from the foot of the Zig-zag Walk,* passing by- 
Banister's Cottage, 39 with Hill Cottage, 31 and Cas- 
tle House, 30 on the right, and terminates by a gen- 
tle declivity to the high road, close by the turnpike 
gate. It is a fine carriage-road, commanding a 
delightful prospect of the extensive vale beneath, 
a wide, rich and varied scene, teeming in fertility; 
and at a further distance are seen Worcester, Lit- 
telton Hills, Vale of Evesham, Bredon Hill, Broad- 
way Hill, Pershore, Upton on Severn, Tewkesbury, 
Cheltenham, Gloucester, Kempsey, Maddersfield, 
Dripshill, and Croome ; with many other objects 
worthy of notice. Nearly in the centre of this 
terrace, is a projecting semi-circular piece of 
ground, known by the name of Card's View. 29 
From this spot is seen to advantage, a view of the 
village, with the south front of the Library, pro- 
ducing a pleasing effect, especially when combined 
with the towering hill on the left, and the open, 
sublime and extensive scenery on the right. 

This terrace, so commodious to invalids, owes 
it's present form, we believe, to the suggestion of 
the Vicar, to the Lord of the Manor, who, with 
his accustomed liberality, ordered the plan to be 
immediately carried into execution. This easy and 



156 spencer's and damer's walks. 



■r-r *-j--r* r~f «ir«\r«\* 



pleasant walk, will not, at a moderate pace r 
occupy more time than three quarters of an hour. 



SPENCER'S WALK. 

A short distance below the Well House, is a 
walk, made by Lady Spencer. It is not given on 
the sketch, it being of small extent. Elevated above 
this walk, is a fine piece of projecting rock, upon 
which, grows an aged mountain ash. 



DAMER'S WALK. 27 

This walk was made by the direction and at the 
expense of the Hon. Mr. Darner; who, with his 
family, were very great benefactors to the village 
when quite in an infant state. The entrance to it 
is from a path by the Well House, commonly called 
Nob's Delight. 25 Upon it are comfortable seats, 
commanding lovely prospects. When the wind is 
high, the hill above affords a shelter. The path 
is a fine level, covered with beautiful green ver- 
dure ; from which is a descent into a zig-zag path, 
leading to Foley Terrace Walk. 28 About mid- way, 
on the right, is a bold piece of rock, in the hollow 
of which is a seat. Before you enter on this val- 
ley, Milton House, 60 has a pretty appearance, with 
the road on Bernard's-Green, to the Rydd. 
Throughout this walk, the prospects of the vale 
beneath is most exquisitely fine ; it is a perfect 
garden. 



BUCHANAN'S WALK. SUGARLOAF, 157 



BUCHANAN'S WALK. 8 

Reaching a path on the right, is General Bu- 
chanan's Walk; commencing from the end of Mr. 
Darner's and extending to the green level upon 
the Sugar Loaf, where it incorporates with Mer- 
rick's Walk. It derives it's name from the gen- 
tleman whom we have had occasion to notice be- 
fore, as one to whom the inhabitants of Malvern 
are greatly indebted This, we have been informed, 
was one of the General's favourite walks. It's 
elevation is directly above Mr. Darner's Walk. 
Near a fine piece of projecting rock, is one of the 
best south views of the venerable church. In the 
front are seen Holly Mount, 21 the seat of Thomas 
Woodyatt, esq., also the North Hill. 16 At a dis- 
tance, the white front of Spetchley House, the 
seat of — Berkley, esq. is very conspicuous. For 
a short space, no objects present themselves, be- 
ing embosomed betwixt the two hills, but on reach- 
ing the 

SUGARLOAF, 

a glorious view suddenly opens, with most en- 
chanting scenes, which cannot be regarded, with- 
out rapture and admiration. The majestic Here- 
ford Beacon, 47 the Obelisk ; the prominent Galiow 
Hill, to the right of Ledbury ; thickly covered 
woods, luxuriant pear trees, peaceful cottages ; 
with the Welsh mountains in the back ground, pro- 
duce a grand exhibition. There is a fine view of 
Bernard's Green, from this Walk^ 



158 merrick's walk. 



MERRICK'S WALK. 9 

- Ascending from the Well House, round a small 
clump of trees on the right, a path is obvious at 
the base of a large rock, 7 on which is painted, 
" to the sugar loaf." This walk was made 
under the superintendence and by the exertions of 
General Buchanan, It commands a fine view of 
the valley beneath, and terminates in the Sugar- 
loaf Hill. This makes a short morning walk, 
employing about the space of an hour. 



WALK TO HARCOURT TOWER, 31 

THROUGH THE WITCH. 

This walk, which arose from the bounty of the 
Countess of Harcourt, cannot fail to arrest atten- 
tion and highly gratify the perambulator, from the 
magnificent varied and beautiful scenery around. 
There are two accesses to this walk, one by St . Ann's 
Well, 5 from thence by the small clump of trees above 
the Well-house; turningto the right, trace St. Ann's 
Walk, 6 and thence to Harcourt Tower. 10 The 
other, which is less intricate, is from the Library, 1 
pass the Shrubbery, 2 the base of the Zig-zag 
Walk, 4 having Banister's Cottage, 32 on the left. 
Hill Cottage, 31 and Castle House, 30 to the right, 
pursuing Foley Terrace Walk 28 to the turnpike 
gate, and from thence on the Ledbury road a 
short distance beyond the firs plantation on the 
right, is the road leading to the Witch ; about the 



WALK TO HARCOURT TOWER. 159 



centre in an eastern direction, the enclosure of Han- 
ley Common presents itself as a fine map. The 
Witch, or chasm, is a passage cut through a stupen- 
dous rock. The rustling of the wind and the won- 
derful features of the scenery, combine to excite 
sublime sensations. One can scarcely help joining 
with the author of the " Reflections relating to the 
Milvern Hills," when he says, that " The imagin- 
ary Dragon had descended from among the con- 
stellations, and here landed his giant bulk, and that 
we tread upon the broad back of the Monster." 
The Herefordshire side of the hill, suddenly ap- 
pears in bold and picturesque scenery, 

O^er which the Cambrian mountains, like far clouds 
That skirt the blue horizon, dusky rise. 

Thompson. 

Mr. Rudd calls this scenery, "the Hereford- 
shire of Salvator Rosa, with his characteristics, 
perhaps a little lowered : while the Worcestershire 
side, though grand from its extent, is, in its rich- 
ness, luxuriancy and beauty, smooth and tran- 
quillizing as the landscapes of Claud." On the 
left, three majestic hills strike the eye ; the nearest 
is Perseverance Hill, 37 the next to it is the Pinna- 
cle, 38 and the more distant one the Herefordshire 
Beacon, or Camp-Hill.* 7 Immediately beyond, 
appears the Obelisk, erected to the memory of Lord 
Somers' family, which will be hereafter noticed. 
In returning to the village over the hill, the visiter 
must turn to the right, if curiosity should prompt 
him to see the Mine, commonly called the Gold 
Mine, he must pass a descent, and on the left is a 
small Cottage, the residence of Mary James, who 



160 WALK TO HARCOUftT TOWER. 



will prove an excellent guide. In the year 1711, 
a William Williams of Bristol, took a lease from 
the Bishop of Hereford, and sunk a mine in this 
place. At first, he worked by a level of eighty 
yards ; and then sunk a perpendicular shaft, near 
two hundred and twenty feet deep. He built se- 
veral furnaces and a smelting house, at a short 
distance from the spot, but never extracted any 
considerable quantity of metal, tho' he asserted 
that both tin and copper were to be found. H* 
persevered in repeated trials, till the year 1721, at 
the expense of about six hundred pounds, and 
then gave up the project. It has been asserted, 
that the miscarriage of the scheme by Williams, 
proceeded from his deficiency of skill. Different 
experiments have since proved, that this substance, 
mistaken for copper, is a kind of mica, not fusible 
by any process whatever. Among this mica is 
found, that curious production, asbestos, an in- 
combustible matter, much esteemed by the ancients. 
It is very probable, says Mr. Horner, that the 
metallic lustre of the micaceous rock, was the 
cause of this speculation ; and to this day, the 
country people call the scales of mica, which are 
washed down by the streams in this part of the 
hill, gold dust. After leaving Harcourt-Tower, 
at a little distance, is a road to the left, which con- 
ducts to the top of the Worcestershire Beacon. The 
direct road from the tower, leads on to St. Ann's 
Walk, 6 and back to St. Ann's Well. 5 We would 
strongly recommend this walk through the Witch, 
to the notice of the visiter of Malvern. From the 
village and back, with a moderate walker, would 



RIDE ROUND THE NORTH TERRACE. 161 



occupy the space of two hours, A donkey or a 
pony, would be found a necessary help to an 
invalid. 

The direct road to Colwall lies over the Witch, 
or by the North Terrace. Colwall is a large vil- 
lage, distant about three miles from Malvern, upon 
the Herefordshire side of the bill, with a parish 
church and a foundation school, endowed by Hum- 
phrey Welwyn, esq., for the benefit of the poor 
children of the parish of Colwall, and seven chil- 
dren of the parish of Little Malvern, and also for 
children of respectable parents of the parish of 
Colwall, on condition of paying 10s. a year. The 
will of the founder is, that the children are to be 
taught by a clergyman, who is to preach four ser- 
mons in the year, quarterly, at the parish church 
of Colwall ; and once a year at Little Malvern ; 
and to repeat an abstract of the founder's will, 
concerning the school. 

Brockbury, in the parish of Colwall, was a 
cell to Malvern Monastery, and contained two 
monks. 

RIDE ROUND THE NORTH TERRACE, 

AND THROUGH THE WITCH. 

On the Worcester road, (before the descent 
into the vale called the Link) on the left is a neat 
thatched covered cottage ; at a short distance be- 
yond it a road divides, the highest leads to the 
North Terrace, and the lower to Cowley Park, at 
the gate of which the road again branches off to 
Leigh Cinton, a small village about three miles 



162 RIDE ROUND THE NORTH TERRACE, 



distance from Malvern. The North Terrace is 
very shady and pleasant. When the wind is high, 
or the weather too hot to ascend the hills, this is a 
delightful ride. Turning up a gate to the right, 
a rich prospect of scenery appears composed of 
hill and dale, woods and shady groves, the ten- 
dril hops, and the labourers' cottages ; forming 
together, a beautiful picture. The city of Here- 
ford and the mountains of Wales, in the back 
ground, with Robery Wood in the nearer view, 
produce a striking effect. After passing a cottage, 
a large expanse opens, with a fine view of the 
Hereford Beacon, Eastnor Castle, and the Obe- 
lisk ; continuing upon the brow of the hill as far 
as the Witch, from whence is a descent into the 
Ledbury road, about half a mile from the village. 
This ride will occupy about the space of three 
hours. 



163 



WALKS ON 

THE NORTH HILL. 



There are but two principal walks, at present, 
upon the North Hill, namely, Lady Mary Talbot's 
walk, and Lady Lambert's walk, to the summit. 



LADY MARY TALBOT'S WALK, 19 

so called, from this lady causing the walk to be 
enlarged and improved at her own expense. 
Formerly it was only a small sheep track, extend- 
ing to. the right from the base of the serpentine 
valley, (near the Shrubbery House) to the end of 
the North Hill. The most prominent object on this 
walk is a rugged projection of rock splintered 
down in parts almost perpendicularly ; of a hoary 
grey and white, but stained with various colours by 
moss, lichens and weeds ; it is commonly called the 
Ivy Rock, from the summit being thickly covered 
with clustering ivy, bearing the marks of departed 
centuries. One or two of the cavities resemble 
fragments in the ruin of some artificial fabric. 
Near this rock will be found the best view of the 
village, and no where else is the Church and Abbey 
Gateway, seen together, to so much advantage, it 
seems to animate and adorn the prospect ; and we 
cannot forbear quoting an observation made by the 



164 

author of " Reflections relative to Malvern Hills." 
« We owe to religion, (it has been said,) some of 
the finest buildings in the world, and how much 
are country views improved by the spires even of 
the simplest village churches." At the foot of this 
walk protected by a high wall, is the genteel man- 
sion of Thomas Woody att, esq. 21 

At a short distance, in the same line of direction, 
is the Lodge, 23 the seat of the late John Surman, 
esq. This walk to the End Hill, by which you 
may return on the Worcester road, will occupy 
the space of an hour, back to the village. 

From the ivy rock, a very short distance to the 
left, is 

LAMBERT'S WALK, 17 

so called in compliment to the Lady of Sir Henry 
Lambert, and sister to Edward Foley, esq. of Stoke 
Edith Park. Undoubtedly this is the most interest- 
ing and picturesque walk in the whole range of the 
hills, and yet, paradoxical as it may seem, is least 
attended to* It is in contemplation to raise a sub- 
scription, for widening and extending this beauti- 
ful walk, thus forming a resting place for the 
perambulator. . 

In the ascent* the Shropshire hills are conspicu- 
ous, and from this walk is seen in the fore-ground 
the common called the Link, on the Worcester 
road, interspersed with neat cottages ; and as the 
Rev. E. M. Rudd, in his interesting publication 
on the Malvern Hills, observes, "exhibiting a living 
landscape, and never so noble as in the full har- 



grenville's walk. 165 



vest, when so much richness, and life, and action 
are in the scene. I have been upon these hills 

In early spring, when melting snow distills 
Adown the mountain's sides in trickling rills, 
When zephyr's breeze unbinds the crumbling soil ; 

I have dwelt with no small pleasure, on the many 
agricultural pictures, presented by the nearest parts 
of this expanse, I have seen the husbandmen at the 
plough, « wind their work" and " sidelong lay the 
glebe," while 

Through other fields the sower stalk'd, 

And lib'ral threw the grain 

Into the faithful bosom of the ground. 

Thompson's Spring. 

I have been here later in the spring, when the 
hopes of the year were one « gay green," 

The universal robe of nature. 

Ibid. 

When, however, the landscape was not only less 
varied, but less peopled, less in motion, of all these 
pleasures, by far the greatest is to look on these 
scenes of maturity and joy." 

Lambert's Walk conducts to the summit and 
blends with 



GRENVILLE'S WALK ;" 

(so distinguished after Lord Grenville, from whose 
bounty this walk was formed,) This path winsd 
round the Table Hill, to the Sugar Loaf. In passing 
from the North Hill to the Hill last mentioned, 
the beautiful serpentine valley intervenes and can- 
not fail to excite attention. Upon the summit there 



166 grenville's walk. 



is a fine view of Upton upon Severn, 31 where this 
river is distinctly seen passing under the arches of 
the bridge. (The perambulator may descend down 
this valley to the village, by the side of the Shrub- 
bery house. 2 Description would attempt in vain, 
a portrait of this scene, but the lovers of nature's 
beauties will appreciate an ample detail, in the 
following lines. 

And now I mark where Upton's spires arise, 

While many stately trees and many cots, 

And villages o'erspread the country round ; 

And orchards with their odoriferous breath, 

That scent the air, and to the eye present 

One sheet of blossoms ; lovely scene ! my heart 

Almost disclaims humanity's dull powers, 

And thinks it were a task of easy sort, 

To glide an airy shape amid the sky, 

Or through yon pleasant valley ; drinking more 

Of heavenly extacy. Cottle. 

Upon this spot, Worcestershire and Hereford- 
shire exhibit a mixture of the sublime, the beautiful, 
and picturesque. 

Winding to the north, in the ascent, the eastern 
side is regained, whence the Worcester Beacon, 12 
North Hill, 16 and Sugarloaf, 14 with other varied 
summits, in the extreme distance, break on the 
view, presenting a strong resemblance to the pic- 
turesque and mountainous scenery of North 
Wales. Upon the summit of the North Hill, there 
appears an immense grave, part of which is entire. 
The narrow part appears to have fallen in. The 
old inhabitants of Malvern call it the Giant's 
Grave. It has a very peculiar appearance. By 
the side, is the form of a cross, not unlike one that 
was found of wood, in digging a grave in the church- 
yard. 



GRENVILLE'S WALK, 167 



TABLE HILL, 26 

Upon which is perceptible, the figure of a 
large table, whence the name is derived. In the 
centre is a cross, of the same appearance and size 
as that by the Giant's Grave, upon the North Hill. 
From Table Hill, proceed on to the Sugarloaf, 1 * 
whence is a descent by Mr. Merrick's Walk, 9 or 
by General Buchanan's Walk, 8 and St. Ann's 
Walk, 6 leaving the Well House close to the right, 
and proceed to a noble swell, or convex terrace, 
terminated by a seat. As seen from the descend- 
ing path above, it resembles the vast leg and foot 
of an elephant ; but on arriving at it, the delighted 
visitant may imagine himself seated on the footstool 
of the throne of nature ; the higher mountains tow- 
ering behind him to the skies, this protruding 
longitudinally towards the east. The prospect 
from hence, though not so expansive as from some 
other points, is extremely fine. This we denomi- 
nate Booker's Mount, from the partiality mani- 
fested by that gentleman for it, in these lines : 

THE POET'S COT. 
As, oft in air, the votary of wealth, 
Of pride and grandeur, does a Castle build ; 
An humbler structure, in that element, 
A vot'ry of the muse, unblam'd, may raise. 
Here then, will I, on this bold promontory, 
Erect a Cottage; round whose trellis'd door 
The rose and eglantine shall interweave 
Their blossom'd honours. Redolent with flow'rs 
Of ev'ry dye, that simple nature loves, 
My garden shall allure to thriftful toil, 
The myriad tenants of the straw-built hive. 
The mountain-rangers too, around my fence 



168 grenville's walk, 



+^-**r*+r>r ■**+*+* 



Of scented thorn, shall fold, at sultry noon, 
In welcome shade, in safety through the night, 
Lulling to slumber with their tinkling bells. 

" A summer cot, for active sinewy strength," 
Observes sage caution : " but when wintry winds 
Sweep o'er the hills, and age, decrepit age, 
Forbid to climb the steep, or downward seek 
A social world, what then will cheer the scene?" 
Friendship, Affection, these, penates kind! 
"With tomes of various lore, and that most priz'd, 
The Tome of Inspiration. Such my guests, 
And, when she wills, a visit of the muse, 
Winter, and storms, and age will find me bless'd, 
As on life peaceful glides to it's last bourne ; 
When scenes far lovelier e'en than Malvern yields, 
A God all-gracious, on me may bestow. 

The following imaginary description of Malvern, 
in it's early state, is from that ingenious work, cal- 
led " Reflections relative to Malvern Hills," attri- 
buted to the pen of the Rev. E. M. Rudd, from 
which we have already largely quoted. «I some- 
times," says he, " go back to the state of things, at 
Malvern, many centuries ago. I see beneath these 
hills, instead of this diversified cheerful scene of 
cultivation, a vast straggling forest, interspersed 
with heathy pastures, with much fewer dwellings 
visible, chiefly huts and cottages, and here and 
there a great man's castle, bosomed in trees ; the 
wide forest scene, having a rich and noble, but 
far more lonely aspect. Archers at a distance ap- 
pear and disappear among the trees, traversing the 
Chase in quest of deer. Solitude, nevertheless, 
strongly characterizes the scene. I have before 
me, the grey gothic Abbey, and it's conventual 
buildings. It's bell sounds among the rocks. 
Cowled monks walk among the thick alder clumps 
below. Some are setting out on a spiritual visit to 
the peasants, or to the household of some baron. 



RIDE OVER THE HILLS. 169 



Others return with water from the Holy Well, two 
miles distant. Some are here upon the hills. One 
sits reading, among rocks and tangled bushes, and 
two or three are above, near the summit, looking 
down on the expanse below. Such, I imagine, was 
the morning", or mid-day scenes, during the 
twelfth or thirteenth century. About the spot 
where we are now sitting, I figure to myself a pair 
of the reverend brethren, strolling calmly after 
their vespers, in some sober summer eve, after hav- 
ing, perhaps, upon the top of the hill, "with wist- 
ful eyes pursued the setting sun," sublime emblem 
of the just, which " shall anon repair it's beams," 
and « flame in the forehead of the morning sky," 
discoursing" in serene, lofty, moralizing mood, on 
some subject friendly to pious hope; and then, with a 
sacred serenity and elevation of soul, sinking down 
in twilight, through the bushes, to their place of 
repose, in the peaceful, holy, receptacle below." 

How changed the scene ! Instead of cowled monks 
sauntering about these hills in monastic attire, ele- 
gant ladies, in white dresses, and trim gentlemen, 
a la mode, bespot the verdant surface ; or the con- 
templative solitary, windsalongthe pathtothesum- 
mit. Others, after viewing the charming landscape, 
descend, with brisker step to the village ; and, not 
seldom, the picture is animated with happy groupes 
of village maidens, gaily attired in Sunday trim. 

RIDE OVER THE HILLS, 

TO THE WELLS. 40 

About two miles and a half from the village of 
Great Malvern, are the Wells, so distinguished 
12 



170 RIDE OVER THE HILLS. 



from Holy Weil being in the vicinity. This is a 
very pretty picturesque district, and the walks 
about the hills are delightful, interspersed with 
neat houses and cottages. It is a charming drive, 
the turnpike road being in good repair. Nearly 
opposite the Upton road 53 upon an eminence, is the 
Well Boarding and Lodging House ? 40 kept by 
the widow of the late Mr. Steers, the resort of 
much genteel company. Upon the acclivity of the 
hill, not far distant from the Holy Well,* 1 is a 
spacious and commodious lodging house called the 
Rock House, 42 the property of the Misses Steers. 
The walks in the vicinity are laid out, with pictu- 
resque effect, where seats are placed at convenient 
distances. On the brow of the hill, upon the 
opposite side of the road, is Essington's Hotel, 54 
where families are boarded in private apartments, 
and every attention and civility are paid them, by 
Mrs. Essington. The road to the wells across the 
hills, is by St. Ann's Well, 5 to Harcourt Tower, 34 
see page 158. Passing the Witch on the Hereford- 
shire side, is Perseverance Hill, 37 where is a 
small thatched covered seat. From thence to Lady 
Harcourt's seat on Pinnacle Hill ; 38 bearing to the 
left is a walk to the Alcove ; where is the brass 
plate, with an inscription noticed page 122. From 
this spot is a descent on the Worcestershire side of 
the hill, by a fine green walk, upon which is a neat 
arbour, built of wood, with the following lines 
inscribed on theback. 

When on this eminence I stand, 
Where'er I turn my wand'ring eyes, 
I see a great Creator's hand, 
In every fall, in every rise. 



DRIVE TO LITTLE MALVERN. 171 



But in the gospel word alone 
I see a Saviour's face, 
There I behold redeeming love 
And learn thy boundless grace. 

The last four lines, in which the subject is ab- 
surdly changed, appear to be painted by a different 
hand. From this seat there is a descent by a sinu- 
ous path to the Rock and Well Houses ; and re- 
turn by a road near Miss Barry's Cottage. 39 At a 
short distance, observe a neat Alcove, under a 
large oak tree, and upon the walk are many seats, 
put there at the expense and by the direction of the 
late venerable Sir Isaac Heard, who presented the 
writer with the following lines, written in favour 
of Ann Palmer, who, at the age of seventy-eight, 
sweeps the walks near the Well House, relying for 
support on the visitors. 

To the Ladies ivho climb the Hygean Hills. 

Ye generous fair ! 

With cheerful air, 
You scale the hills, and grace display, 

A poor old dame, 

Of honest fame, 
Sweeps well the paths, to smooth the way. 
Ah should her labours gain your praise, 
She'd comforts find in winter days. 

This path leads by the Witch, to the turnstile 
below the chasm, cut through the rocks. The ex- 
cursion will require about three hours. 

DRIVE TO LITTLE MALVERN. 50 

After quitting the village of Great Malvern, the 
first object of attraction is the Parks, 61 the seat of 
the Misses West. The house is very tastefully fitted 



172 DRIVE TO LITTLE MALVERN. 



up ; the gardens and pleasure-grounds are very 
beautiful, the whole being planted upon the side of 
the rock, with evergreens and shrubs of the choic- 
est kinds. The walk winding to the summit 
of the mountain, forms a grand amphitheatre 
highly picturesque. The next is Melton House, 60 
on the left, the genteel residence of Bennet 
Garlike, esq. m. d. We next observe, embo- 
somed in wood, the Firs-House, 58 the property 
of Thomas Hornyhold, esq. The appearance of 
Hanley Common, chequered, and the Upton road, 53 
add to the variety. Next is Ruby Cottage, 55 to 
the right, with Essington's Hotel, 54 to the left. 
A little further is Gloucester House, 52 * and Re- 
gent Lodge. We next notice May Place, 52 to 
the left of the road. Most of these are lodging- 
houses. Advancing on our route, we see Bel- 
mont Lodge, 43 the seat of Sir' Robert TVigram, 
and South Lodge. 44 The appearance of both is 
striking, being built upon the declivity of the hill. 
Little Malvern is a small village, about four 
miles distant from Great Malvern, situated upon a 
woody recumbent slope, near the entrance of an 
extensive recess or hollow, in the range of hills of 
which the Herefordshire Beacon forms such a con- 
spicuous object. According to the return made to 
the Privy Council, by Bishop Sandys, in the reign 
of Queen Elizabeth, this parish contained thirty- 
seven families, but at the present time there are 
fifteen only. The number of inhabitants, as taken 
under the population act of 1821, was sixty-seven ; 
viz. thirty-three males, and thirty-four females, 
most of whom are employed in agriculture. 



DRIVE TO LITTLE MALVERN. 173 



In the Anglo Norman times, this district was lit- 
tle better than a wilderness, well calculated for re- 
tirement. Here, therefore, about the year 1171, 
two brothers, Joceline and Edred became hermits, 
and passing- their lives in austerity and penance, 
they founded here a small Benedictine Priory for 
themselves and a few other monks, who had sepa- 
rated from the Priory at Worcester, to which 
this cell became subordinate. The new estab- 
lishment was dedicated to St. Giles, and it con- 
tinued till the dissolution of the lesser monasteries 
in 1538, at which period it contained a prior and 
seven monks. It's possessions, which were valued 
at £98 per annum, were afterwards granted to 
Richard Andrews and Nichols Temple. 

The present Church, which is that which be- 
longed to the Priory, was built on the site of the 
more ancient edifice about the year 1482, temp. 
Henry the seventh, by the influence of that cele- 
brated prelate and architect, John Alcock, bishop 
of Worcester. It was originally constructed in 
the form of a cross, having an embattled tower ris- 
ing from the centre ; but the transept has long been 
in ruins, and partly destroyed. The other divi- 
sions of the building are much dilapidated. From 
several points of view it forms a picturesque and 
striking object, particularly when it's pointed win- 
dows and rich tracery are seen, combining with the 
mantling ivy that has been suffered to overspread a 
portion of the exterior walls. In descending the 
hilly road from Ledbury, the eye glances over the 
tower of the church, which appears to rise from 
thick woods. Cottle has thus noticed the church 
in his beautiful Poem on Malvern. 



174 DRIVE TO LITTLE MALVERN, 



r wsf MVW +*f tsr <\#- 



Just peeping from a woody covert near, 

The lesser Malvern stands. Sequestered church ! 

The spot around thee speaks of quietness. 

Down at the mountain's base thou long hast brav'd 

With unmov'd front, the season's varying hour, 

The vernal tempest and December's storms ; 

Yet, at this tranquil time, most fair thou art. 

The aged oaks around, and towering elms, 

In wild luxuriance spread their stately limbs ; 

And true to friendship, ward each angry blast 

That, howling through the valley, sweeps along 

To thy dark battlements. 

Thou humhle church, protected stand 

Though many a year of sunshine and of storm, 

And may thy sylvan guardian flourish too, 

The woodman pass them, and the tempest spare. 



The interior of the Church is plain and uninvit- 
ing, although indications of former spleDdour still 
remain in it's vestiges of painted glass and armorial 
blazonry, which, it is said, once outrivalled those 
of Great Malvern Church. The eastern window is 
ornamented with very elegant tracery, dividing it 
into numerous lights, the principal of which are 
trefoil headed : quatrefoils and other forms com- 
plete the design. In the upper divisions are 
several armorial shields in stained glass, and in the 
lower compartments are the remains of some 
figures, which are conjectured to have been por- 
traits of the Queen and part of the family of Ed- 
ward the fourth. Some rude seats with a few pews, 
or rather boxes, in the nave, and some old stalls 
on each side of the chancel, are the accommoda- 
tions for the congregation during divine service. 
Inthe southern corner is a dilapidated gothic pulpit. 
A wooden screen, that has been perforated in tbe 
gothic style, in compartments, but is now much 
broken, separates the nave from the chancel. 



DRIVE TO LITTLE MALVERN. 175 



Nearly over it, from wall to wall, is a beautiful 
carved beam, exhibiting foliage, finely relieved and 
under-cut. In an angle near the stalls on the 
northern side is grotesque carving. In the pavement 
are several wrought tiles ; upon one or two of which 
the same inscription may be traced as that already 
given in the account of Great Malvern Church. 
The Font, which is of stone, and of an octagonal 
form, stands among the pews on the northern side 
of the nave. 

The sepulchral memorials are principally con- 
fined to a few mural tablets of little importance ; 
but there were formerly some of considerable 
antiquity. On the northern side was an ancient 
raised monument, with the figure of a man, all 
armed, except his face ; under his head an helmet 
with his crest, a lion's head ; at his feet a lion ; on 
his right hand his wife, richly dressed ; at her 
head two angels, at her feet a little dog with a 
collar and bells. Habyngdon says, that in his 
time, (viz. Queen Elizabeth's reign,) "there lay in 
the south aisle a Knight, or crusader, all armed 
saving his face, his right hand on his sword, and 
his legs crossed : on his right hand lay his lady 
with her arms crossed." He imagined this latter 
position to indicate, that the lady had accompanied 
her husband, in his military religious pilgrimage to 
the Holy land. The Church is a perpetual curacy. 
The living is in the gift of Mrs. Wakeman of Little 
Malvern, who is a Roman Catholic, and therefore 
incapable of presenting ; she has, however, the 
nomination of the living, and the presentation is 
made by the Right Hon the Earl Somers. The 
Rev. Edward Woodyatt, B. a. has the curacy. 



176 DRIVE TO LITTLE MALVERN. 



Near the Church an antique wood-framed build- 
ing, stands upon the site of the old Priory. It's sit- 
uation is romantic and sequestered. The house is 
now the property and residence of Mrs. Wakeman, 
who has made considerable improvements. In 
front is a fine piece of water. The declivity of the 
adjoining" glen cloathed with bold impending wood, 
with a receding hill above, produce a pleasing ro- 
mantic picture. An expanse of fertile meadow, to 
the east, is tastefull y planted with trees, one o f which 
is a lime, remarkable for it's fine size and handsome 
growth, adding another majestic feature to the 
placid pastoral grandeur around, this vicinity 
abounds with varied charms and picturesque beau- 
ties in every direction. 

The Sunday School at Little Malvern owes 
it's existance chiefly, not to the splendour of no- 
ble patronage, but to the exertions of a humble 
individual, whose enviable feelings resulting from 
the knowledge of his being the instrument, by the 
hand of Providence, of doing much good to the 
rising generation, has hitherto been his only reward. 

In the year 1812 Mrs. Barry, a widow lady, 
of good property, commenced a subscription for 
the purpose of erecting a building and establishing 
a Sunday School for the instruction of the poor 
residing in the neighbourhood of Malvern Wells. 
But discouraged by the smallness of the sum, 
and worn out by many obstacles thrown in her 
way, she was at last, though reluctantly, obliged to 
desist from her purpose. Thus, had a plan, so 
beneficial to the interest of society, been entirely 
abandoned, when Mr. George Phillips, who at 



DRIVE TO LITTLE MALVERN. 177 



that time lived servant with Mrs. Barry, became 
deeply interested in the design, and determined to 
check the profligacy which prevailed among- the 
surrounding peasantry. He adopted the ideas of 
his worthy mistress, but commenced the plan with- 
out communication. From his own resources, he 
hired a room, engaged a teacher at three shillings 
per week, and assisted himself in teaching, so far as 
his leisure would permit. He commenced his 
school at North Cottage, Dec. 5, 1813, with 
twenty two children. The scholars increased, and 
the cottage was too small. Mrs. Barry soon be- 
came acquainted with Mr. Phillips's project, trans- 
ferred thirty pounds, which she had collected, and 
added to it, twenty pounds from her own purse. 
In the year 1815, the number of children instruct- 
ed, were one hundred and twenty five boys and 
one hundred and fifty eight girls. Mrs. Barry 
did not live long to witness the exertions of her 
faithful servant. She died Sep. 30, 1814, and left 
a daughter, who possesses her mother's virtues, and 
who continues a warm friend to the Sunday School 
of Little Malvern. 

It ought to be recorded to the honour of this 
second Man of Ross, that he has not only reared 
this school at his own expense, without the hope or 
expectation of any return, but he has also pur- 
chased a quarter of an acre of land, which cost 
him eighty pounds. He erected a school upon it, 
at an expense of three hundred and eighty nine 
pounds, twelve shillings and sixpence ; three hun- 
dred of which, we believe, have since been raised by 
subscription. Had not rumour lead a gentleman 



178 DRIVE TO LITTLE MALVERN, 



to make a strict enquiry into this almost unparallel- 
ed act of christian benevolence, the statement of it 
would never, in all probability, have reached the 
public eye, or sympathy and benevolence ever 
been solicited ; for this man sought not the praise 
that cometh from man, but from God only. 

We regret to state, that from Mr. Phillips not 
having the same means of support as at the time 
the Sunday School was first established, he is 
obliged to give up his gratuitous services. It 
therefore remains with the inhabitants of Malvern, 
and the public to judge how far an individual, 
who has done thus much for the benefit of society, 
ought to be encouraged in furtherance of a plan 
which owes every thing to him for its success and 
completion. 







£=J 



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179 



r/s#/>//^/y ■rf^^s* 1 



REFERENCES TO THE 

SKETCH OF THE PRINCIPAL WALKS 

UPON THE HILLS, LODGING HOUSES, &c. 



1. Road from the Library to the 

Zig-zag walk, leading to St. 
Ann's Well, and Worcester- 
shire Beacon. 

2. The Shrubbery Lodging- 

house. 

3. Ash Grove, the residence of the 

late Rev. JamesStillingfleet, 
prebendary of Worcester 
Cathedral. 

4. Zig-zag Walk. 

5. St Ann's Well. 

6. 6, 6, 6, 6. St. Ann's Walk to 

the Worcestershire Beacon. 

7. Direction rock to the Sugar- 

loaf and Table-hill. 

8. 8. Buchanan's Walk. 

9. Merrick's Walk to the Sugar- 

loaf. 

10. Walk to Harcourt Tower. 
1.1. Round the summit to the 

Worcestershire Beacon. 

12. The Worcestershire Beacon. 

13. To Harcourt Tower, from 

the Beacon. 

Sugar-loaf Hill. 

Table Hill. 

North Hill. 

17, 17. Lambert Walk, from 

the foot of the Shrubbery 

House, extending to the top 

of the North Hill. 

Ivy Rock. 

Talbot Walk, leading to the 

North Terrace. 
A short walk down the Hill. 
Holly Mount, the seat of 

Thomas Woodyatt, esq. 



14. 
15. 
16. 
17, 



18. 
19. 



20. 
21. 



22. Lodge, the seat of John Sur- 

man, esq. and temporary 
residence of the Dean of 
Worcester 

23. Grenville Walk, Round Ta- 

ble and Sugar-loaf Hills. 

24. The valley separating the 

Worcestershire Beacon from 
the North Hill. 

25. Seat upon St. Ann's Delight. 
25* Booker's Mount. 

26. Knob's Delight. 

27. 27. Darner's Walk. 

28. Foley Terrace. 

29. Card's View- 

30. Castle-house Lodging-house. 

31. Hill-cottage Lodging-house. 

32. Banister's-cottage Lodging- 
house. 

33. Steps leading down to the 

Village. 

34. Harcourt Tower. 

35. Witch. 

36. Harcourt Walk. 

37. Perseverance Hill. 

38. The Pinnacle. 

39. Miss Barry's Cottage. 

40. Well-house, with public 
boarding-table. 

41. Holy-well. 

42. Rockhouse Boarding-house. 

43. Belmont Lodge. 
43* North Cottage. 

44. South Lodge. 

45. The Alcove, erected by the 

Lady Mary Countess Har- 
court. 

46. Walk to the Rockhouse. 




rr C n&4iyW£7ia2e7-l}'£ 



(JfeeZcfc a/ ' Ifu^ WetsZ'&J'. 



179 



REFERENCES TO THE 

SKETCH OF THE PRINCIPAL WALKS 

UPON THE HILLS, LODGING HOUSES, &c. 



1. Road from the Library to the 

Zig-zag walk, leading to St. 
Ann's Well, and Worcester- 
shire Beacon. 

2. The Shrubbery Lodging- 

house. 

3. Ash Grove, the residence of the 

late Rev. James Stillingfleet, 
prebendary of Worcester 
Cathedral. 

4. Zig-zag Walk. 

5. St Ann's Well. 

6. 6, 6, 6, 6. St. Ann's Walk to 

the Worcestershire Beacon. 

7. Direction rock to the Sugar- 

loaf and Table-hill. 

8. 8. Buchanan's Walk. 

9. Merrick's Walk to the Sugar- 

loaf. 

10. Walk to Harcourt Tower. 

11. Round the summit to the 

Worcestershire Beacon. 

12. The Worcestershire Beacon. 

13. To Harcourt Tower, from 

the Beacon. 

14. Sugar-loaf Hill. 

15. Table Hill. 

16. North Hill. 

17. 17, 17. Lambert Walk, from 
the foot of the Shrubbery 
House, extending to the top 
of the North Hill. 

18. Ivy Rock. 

19. Talbot Walk, leading to the 

North Terrace. 

20. A short walk down the Hill. 

21. Holly Mount, the seat of 
Thomas Woodyatt, esq. 



22. Lodge, the seat of John Sur- 

man, esq. and temporary 
residence of the Dean of 
Worcester 

23. Grenville Walk, Round Ta- 

ble and Sugar-loaf Hills. 

24. The valley separating the 

Worcestershire Beacon from 
the North Hill. 

25. Seat upon St. Ann's Delight. 
25* Booker's Mount. 

26. Knob's Delight. 

27. 27. Darner's Walk. 

28. Foley Terrace. 

29. Card's View. 

30. Castle-house Lodging-house. 

31. Hill-cottage Lodging-house. 

32. Banister's-cottage Lodging- 
house. 

33. Steps leading down to the 

Village. 

34. Harcourt Tower. 

35. Witch. 

36. Harcourt Walk. 

37. Perseverance Hill. 

38. The Pinnacle. 

39. Miss Barry's Cottage. 

40. Well-house, with public 
boarding-table. 

41. Holy-well. 

42. Rockhouse Boarding-house. 

43. Belmont Lodge. 
43* North Cottage. 

44. South Lodge. 

45. The Alcove, erected by the 

Lady Mary Countess Har- 
court. 
46# Walk to the Rockhouse. 



180 



REFERENCES TO THE SKETCH. 



//A///MA///1 



47. 

48. 

49. 
50. 
51. 
52. 
52* 
53. 
54. 
55. 
56. 
57. 

58. 
59. 
60. 

61. 
62. 
63. 
64. 
65. 

66. 
67. 

68. 



69. 



Caniphill, or Herefordshire 
Beacon. 

Giant's Cave upon the Here- 
fordshire side. 
Road to Ledbury. 
Little Malvern. 
Road to Upton. 
May Place. 
Gloucester House. 
Principal road to Upton. 
Essington's Hotel 
Ruby Cottage. 
North Lodge. 

Road from Hereford and 
Ledbury to "Worcester. 
The Firs Lodging-house. 
Turnpike House. 
Melton-house, the residence 
of Dr. Bennet Garlike. 
Parks, the seat of Miss West. 
Mrs. Plumer's House. 
Crown Hotel. 
Belle Vue Hotel. 
Miss Mason's Lodging house, 
let in separate apartments. 
Deverieux Lodging-house. 
Post office Lodging-house, let 
in separate apartments. 
Library Board and Lodging- 
house. Here a public Board- 
ing-table is kept for a se- 
lect party, not exceeding 
fourteen persons. 
St. Edith Lodging-house, let 
in separate apartments, or 
the whole house, as circum- 
stances offer, with or with- 
out board. 



70. 
71. 

72. 
73. 

74. 
75. 
76. 

77. 

77* 

78. 



S2. 
S3. 
84. 
85. 
86. 
87. 
88. 
89. 
90. 



The Pump-room and Baths* 
Academy for young gentle- 
men. 

Foley-arms Hotel. 
Trafalgar Lodging-house. 
Foley Lodging-house. 
Laurel Villa. 
Burford Lodging-house. 
Cobourg Place, two Lodg- 
ing-houses. 
Bredon-house. 
Paradise-row. 

1. Mr. Griffiths's Lodging- 
house. 

2. Ditto. 

3. Mr. Waldron, Surgeon, 
Apothecary , and Druggist. 
Here are apartments to 
let. 

4. Mrs. Silvester's Lodging- 
house. 

Sunday School house. 
Viranda Cottage Lodging- 
house. 

St. Ann's Cottage, Mr. War- 
ren, Surgeon and Apothe- 
cary. 

Livery Stables. 
The Vicar's house. 
Church. 

Abbey Boarding-house. 
St. Edith's walk. 
Road to Bernard's Green. 
Turnpike house. 
Chalybeate Spring. 
School of Industry. 



Besides the Lodging-houses, marked in the Map, there are many 
more; namely, Mr. Key's Lodgings ; Apartments opposite the Fo- 
ley-arms ; Mrs. Burson's Lodgings, next door ; Mr. Williams's apart- 
ments, opposite the Baths ; Mr. Crow's, in the road from the Library, 
leading to St. Ann's Well; Mr. Griffiths's apartments, near the 
Church Gate ; Mr. Lucas's, Mr. Archer's, and Mr. George's apart- 
ments, situated by St. Ann's Cottage, on the road leading to Ber- 
nard's Green ; Mr. Vaugban Probert's apartments, south side of the 
Library; and at the end of the village, on the Worcester road, is a 
very good Lodging house, called Woodland Cottage; a short dis- 
tance from it, upon the link or vale below, is Pomona House, and 
Link Villa, both good Lodging-houses. Further particulars may 
be known by application to the Library. 



181 



■+*.**+*■»*•** **■**• 



REFERENCES TO THE 

SKETCH OF THE WALKS, &c. 

ARRANGED ALPHABETICALLY. 



85. Abbey House. 


65. Mason's Lodging house. 


71. Academy. 


52. May place. 


3. Ash Grove. 


9. Merrick's Walk. 


32. Banister's Cottage. 


60. Melton-house. 


39. Barry's Cottage. 


16. North-hill. 


64. Belle Vue Hotel. 


56. North Lodge. 


43. Belmont Lodge. 


78. Paradise-row. 


87. Bernard's-green road. 


61. Parks. 


77* Bredon House; 


37. Perseverance hill. 


8. Buchanan's Walk. 


38. Pinnacle. 


76. Burford House. 


62. Plumer's (Mrs.) House. 


47. Camphill. 


67. Post-office. 


29. Card's View. 


70. Pump-room and Baths. 


30. Castle-house. 


42. Rock-house. 


89. Chalybeate Spring. 


46- Rock-house Walk. 


84. Church. 


55» Ruby Cottage. 


77- Cohourg Place. 


90» School of Industry. 


63- Crown Hotel. 


2« Shrubbery-house. 


27- Darner's Walk. 


44. South Lodge. 


66- Deverieux House. 


81. St. Ann's Cottage. 


7. Direction Rock. 


25. St. Ann's Delight, Seat upon, 


54- Essington's Hotel. 


6. St. Ann's Walk. 


58- Fir's Lodging-house. 


5. St. Ann's Well. 


72. Foley-arms Hotel. 


1. St. Ann's Well, Road to t 


74. Foley House. 


69. St. Edith's-house. 


28. Foley Terrace. 


86. St. Edith's Walk. 


48. Giant's Cave. 


33. Steps to the Village. 


52* Gloucester House. 


14. Sugar-loaf Hill. 


23. Grenville Walk. 


9. Sugar-loaf, Walk to. 


45. Harcourt's Alcove. 


79. Sunday School. 


34. Harcourt Tower. 


15. Table-hill. 


10. Harcourt Tower, Walk to, 


19. Talbot-walk. 


13. Harcourt Tower, Walk to, 


73. Trafalgar-house. 


from the Beacon. 


59. 88. Turnpike-house. 


36. Harcourt Walk. 


51, 53. Upton-road. 


47. Herefordshire Beacon. 


24. Valley between the W. Bea- 


31. Hill Cottage. 


con and North Hill. 


21. Holly-mount. 


83. Vicar's House. 


41. Holywell. 


80. Viranda Cottage. 


18. Ivy Rock. 


40. Well-house. 


26. Knob's Delight. 


35. Wiche. 


17. Lambert's Walk. 


57. Worcester road, from Led« 


75. Laurel Villa. 


bury. 


49. Led bury- road. 


12. Worcestershire Beacon. 


68. Library-house. 
50. Little Malvern. 


I. Worcestershire Beacon, Road 
to. 


82. Livery Stables. 


4. Zig-zag Walk. 


22. Lodge. 





182 



DRIVE TO THE 

HEREFORDSHIRE BEACON. 47 

That remarkable link in the chain of the Mal- 
vern Hills, which is designated the Herefordshire 
Beacon, is situated in the parish of Little Malvern, 
on the left of the Ledbury road, about four miles 
and a half from the village of Great Malvern, and 
about two miles northward from the ruins of Bran- 
sil Castle. Upon the crest of this Beacon, are the 
remains of one of the strongest Hill Fortresses 
in the kingdom; it is impossible for words to con- 
vey a complete idea of this strong hold ; the works 
are too vast, the heights too unequal, and the base 
of the eminence too extensive. Many have un- 
hesitatingly pronounced this Hill Fortress, parts of 
which are ruined by age, and marked with the scars 
and impressions of war, to be altogether of Roman 
origin. Others have attributed this stupendous work 
to the Britons. " Observe," say they, " the vast la- 
bour employed in it's construction ; it's amazing 
belts of ramparts and trenches; it's great extent; 
it's well chosen situation, which commands what was 
anciently the only pass through the Malvern Hills ; 
it's singular irregularity of form, and evident dis- 
similitude to the modes of fortification observed by 
the Danes, Romans, and the Saxons, all combine to 
give the origin of this important Fortress to British 
workmanship, under the renowned Caractacus. 



HEREFORDSHIRE BEACON. 183 



The general shape of that portion of the hill occupi- 
ed by the remains of a vast entrenchment, approach- 
es to an ellipsis, and the disposition of the banks and 
ditches, corresponds with that figure. The area 
of the centre and highest part, is an irregular par- 
allelogram, measuring about sixty yards in it's long- 
est diameter, and nearly forty in it's shortest. This 
is surrounded by a high and steep rampart of stones 
and earth, now covered with turf, and defended by 
a deep ditch. Considerably below, upon the de- 
clivity of the hill, ranging toward the south-west, 
or rather south-west by south, is a very extensive 
outwork or bastion, of an oval form, containing a 
sufficient area for the stowage, and even pasturage 
of horses and cattle. This is connected by means 
of a narrow slip of land running beneath the south- 
eastern side of the upper ditch, with a similar kind 
of bastion or outwork, ranging eastward, and man- 
ifestly intended for similar purposes. Both these 
works are surrounded by a high rampart and deep 
ditch, the former of which is from fifty to sixty feet 
high at present, and the latter from twelve to 
eighteen feet in depth, and from thirty to forty- 
feet in width at the top ; but those which surround 
the whole encampment, are in general, of larger 
dimensions, and particularly the ditch, which may 
originally have been wide enough at the bottom, to 
admit the passage of a chariot, a consideration of 
the first importance to a british army of those days 
The ditch is excavated out of the hard rock, and 
the inclosed have evidently been levelled by art, 
as far as the natural shape of the eminence would 
admit. Still lower, upon the declivity are succes- 



184 HEREFORDSHIRE BEACON. 



sive ranges of ramparts and ditches, very steep, 
deep and high, encircling the sides of the mountain 
and rendering it nearly, if not utterly inaccessable 
toan enemy, there being only one originalentrance. 
The circumference of the Beacon, is two thou- 
sand nine hundred and seventy yards, the length 
one thousand one hundred, and the entire camp or 
fortification is of such extent and strength that it is 
capable of admitting an army of at least twenty 
thousand men, within it's trenches, and the bastion 
contains an area sufficient for the stowage and pas- 
turage of horses and cattle, and are of that con- 
struction that their firmness has not yielded to the 
efforts of seventeen centuries. These intrench- 
ments are supposed to be the beginning of a line 
of works, which passed through a long extent of 
country, and were thrown up by the Britons and 
Romans, when Ostorius Scapula, who commanded 
under the emperor Claudius, subdued the Britons. 
The county of Hereford was one of the districts 
that composed the state of the ancient Silures. 
The inhabitants were a brave and martial people, 
who, in conjunction with the Ordovices, or inhabi- 
tants of North Wales, retarded the progress of the 
Roman arms for a considerable time, and remained 
independent of the Roman government for several 
years after their eastern neighbours had submitted. 
It appears, ttoat the grand object of all the opera- 
tions of Ostorius, was the conquest of these na- 
tions, which had chosen for their commander the 
brave and noble Caractacus, in whom the Romans 
met with a powerful opponent. This famous sol- 
dier was possessed of all the requisites of an experi- 



HEREFORDSHIRE BEACON. 185 



anced warrior ; and although possessed of inferior 
forces, he continued, for above nine years to op- 
pose and harrass the Romans : till at length he was 
totally routed and taken prisoner. There appears 
little doubt but this strong position on the Malvern 
Hills was occupied by him. 

The Rev. Dr. Card, Vicar of Great Malvern, in 
an able and learned tract, intitled, «• A Dissertation 
on the Hereford Beacon, " has adduced convincing 
reasons in favour of the probability of these conjec- 
tures. (See page 17 to 22.) This ingenious 
work is concluded as follows. " It was upon this 
spot then, now generally known by the name of 
the Herefordshire Beacon, that I may venture to 
assert, if the positive concurrent testimonies above 
cited, are allowed to have their due weight, that 
the great Caractacus lingered with the high wrought 
purpose of transmitting to his countrymen the 
most precious of all inheritances, the memory of 
his virtues. 

It was on this spot the lion of Britain, unwean- 
ed and roused from his native woods, before his 
sinews were knit, or the age of his strength was 
arrived, awaited for a time the Roman hunter in 
zenith of his might, and even in his feeblest infancy, 
burst through the toils set for him, preferring the 
prospect of destruction, to the abasement of an igno- 
minious safety. A place consecrated by these varied 
and interesting associations, clothed with every title 
that can enoble, exalt, and endear it to the heart of 
the British patriot, cannot but be regarded with the 
deepest veneration, standing as a striking, and im- 
posing monument, to record the heroism of those 

13 



186 HEREFORDSHIRE BEACON, 



/r//y/Af/j r j- 4 



who were willing to die for their country's free- 
dom." It may be readily imagined, that Caracta- 
eus did not abandon such a fortification without 
trying every stratagem which his fertile talents 
could suggest, to allure the enemy out of his coun- 
try. When, however, all hope of accomplishing 
this most desirable purpose was fled, his alterna- 
tives were, immediate battle, or retreat among the 
Ordo vices. The abandonment of this post, there- 
fore, will be thought to reflect equal credit upon 
his patriotism and military judgment ; for as 
Caractacus retreated, Ostorius advanced, thus 
drawing the Romans to a place advantageously 
formed for defence. Antiquaries and historians 
have differed greatly respecting the spot upon 
which this important battle was fought. According 
to Camden, it took place upon Caer-Caradoc, near 
Church Stretton, in Shropshire ; but General Roy 
has suggested Coxwall Knoll, situated in a beautiful 
valley, near Brampton Brian, as the scene of 
action. 

The views from the summit of this majestic 
work, include a vast extent of country, and Here- 
fordshire from this height, assumes a very different 
character, from that of the contiguous districts of 
Worcester and Gloucester. It appears to be com- 
posed of an immense continuation of oblong coni- 
cal and irregular hills, principally covered with 
fine timber ; the deep shadows of it's luxuriant 
foliage, projecting over the most beautiful vales, 
abounding with orchards, cornfields, and hop- 
grounds. The distance to the west is finely marked, 
by the range of the Black Mountains, and the hills 



DRIVE TO EASTNOR CASTLE. 18? 

of Radnorshire. The prospects to the east and 
south-east are yet more extensive, including a 
very large proportioh of Gloucestershire and 
Worcestershire, which appears spread out before 
the sight, variegated by all the charms of nature 
and cultivation. The Herefordshire Beacon itself 
is most eminently conspicuous, for many miles, and 
forms an object of uncommon grandeur. Along 
the side of the hill, about the extent of half a mile, 
there is a very good walk. From this eminence, 
on the west side, you have a distinct view of East- 
Uor Castle. 



DRIVE TO EASTNOR CASTLE. 3 * 

This modern mansion, the magnificent seat of 
Earl Somers, is situated in the county of Here- 
ford, distant about eight miles from the village of 
Great Malvern, and about two miles from Led- 
bury. It is situated upon the northern end of an 
eminence, near the site of an ancient mansion. The 
approach to it is, perhaps the finest in England, 
being through an avenue of three miles of road, 
composed of fine woody country, where the juni- 
per tree, the oak, and other trees form an umbra- 
geous shelter over the domains of their noble 
owner. The lodge is nearly at the foot of the 
Herefordshire Beacon, through which you enter 
on the ridge- way, which commands some beautiful 
scenery. This has been supposed one of the an- 
cient Roman roads, but it probably is a production 
of nature, very little, if at all, assisted by art. 
The castle designed by Robert Smirke, exhibits a 



188 DRIVE TO EASTNOR CASTLF. 



fine specimen of baronial dignity; and with ths 
exterior of the gothic, includes within, the conve- 
niences of modern and elegant comfort. It's front 
opens upon a broad terrace. The castle is sur- 
rounded by a moat filled with water, and crossed 
by a bridge. At each end are circular bastions or 
towers, which, with the fine centre, have a grand 
and romantic effect. The projecting declivities 
of the Malvern Hills and other eminences, with a 
profusion of wood which environs it, produce a 
sublime appearance ; in the front arch of the porch 
are engraved in gothic characters, 
AB ANNO MDCCCXII JACTIS ES TEM- 
PORE FUNDAMENTIS ASQUE AD AN- 
NUM MDCCCXXIV HOC CASTELLUM 
(EDIFICABAT JOH s . S. COMES SOMERS- 

The gardens are laid out with great taste, the 
park is very extensive, in which is a very beautiful 
Grotto, composed of moss, spars, and shells. 
The windows contain some very fine paintings on 
glass, by Lady Caroline Eastnor. Upon one of the 
highest eminences in the vicinity, distant about half 
a mile from the castle is an Obelisk, rising ninety 
feet from it's base, built about the year 1812, by 
Earl Somers. 

The eastern and western sides are inscribed to 
the memory of John Lord Somers, baron of Eve- 
sham, Lord high chancellor of England, in the 
reign of William the third, and president of the 
council of Queen Anne, who died a bachelor. 

The southern side is inscribed to the memory of 
James Cocks, ensign in the Guards ; who, before 
he had attained the age of twenty, fell, fighting for 



DRIVE TO LEDBURY. $89 



feis country, in the battle of St. Cas, upon the coast 
ef France, A. D. 1768. 

The northern side is to the memory of the Honour- 
able Edward Charles Cocks, eldest son of Earl 
Somers, who fell under the Duke of Wellington, 
before Burgos, at the age of twentysix, respected, 
beloved, and regretted. 

This Obelisk is seen at a great distance and is a 
grand feature in the midst of a most romantic and 
varied country. 

Eastnor Castle is open to the public, every Tues- 
day, from eleven to five o'clock, and is a delight- 
ful morning drive. 



DRIVE TO LEDBURY. 50 

On leaving the western side of the Malvern Hills, 
ihe road passes along a low valley. Towards three 
miles from Ledbury, on the descent, from the 
Herefordshire Beacon, stands Barton Court, the 
seat of Nicholas Peyton, esq. At a mile from 
Ledbury, the road ascends the chain of hills on the 
eastern side of that town, and winds through them 
to it's entrance. Seated upon an eminence, over- 
looking the town, is Upperhall, the residence 
of the Rev. Reginald Pyndar. Ledbury is near the 
centre of this chain, at the head of a pleasant and 
extensive valley, and were it not in the vicinity of 
the celebrated scenery of Malvern, would not fail 
to attract the attention of the traveller. These hills 
extend about five miles in a direction parallel with 
those of Malvern, and are, for the most part, cov- 



190 DRIVE TO LEDBURY. 



ered with groves and coppice woods, which sup- 
ply to the lover of the « wildly devious walk," a 
variety of delightful excursions, and afford a suc- 
cession of the richest and most picturesque views, 
of which the Malvern hills, in groupes, continually 
changing, present some of the most striking. A 
view, however, of a superior kind, is seen from 
Broadlow, which rises immediately above the 
town, and may be distinguished by a clump of fir 
trees upon it's knoll. The ascent to this spot is 
easy, and while resting on the verdant brow, the 
the delighted beholder must feel the truth of Dyer's 
poetical description of this favoured district. 

Pleasant Seluria, land of various views ! 
Hills, rivers, woods and lawns, and purple groves ! 
Pomacious, mingling with the circling growth 
Of tendril hops, that flaunt upon their poles ! 

The Fleece. 

The Town of Ledbury, is eight miles distant 
from Great Malvern, and four from the base of 
the Beacon camp. It is equi-distant, sixteen 
miles from the cities of Hereford, Worcester, and 
Gloucester. The principal streets are spacious, 
and it contains many respectable houses and hand- 
some shops. The Church is a large fabric, appar- 
ently of great antiquity, and exhibits several inter- 
esting monuments, both ancient and modern. The 
interior has been recently much improved; the 
pews have been newly constructed, the galleries 
more commodiously arranged, and a new organ set 
up, the whole at a cost of two thousand pounds, 
supplied by voluntary donations. The alter has 
also been ornamented by a well executed copy of 
the last supper of Leonardo da Vinci, which reflects 



N 

DRIVE TO LEDBURY. 191 

*sr ****** *■*++**< 

the highest credit on the talents of Mr. Ballard, the 
artist by whom it was executed. Upon the north- 
ern side of the Church, but detached by a narrow 
avenue, stands a Tower, surmounted by an elegant 
spire. In the centre of the town, is the ancient 
Hospital, and Chapel of St. Catherine, found- 
ed in the thirteenth century, by Hugh Folliot^ 
bishop of Hereford, for the maintenance of six 
widowers and four widows, which has been lately 
in part, rebuilt from a design made by Robert 
Smirke, esq. The increased funds of the charity, 
will enable the trustees to maintain an additional 
number of inmates. At the distance of nine feet 
from the building, stands the remains of a range 
of houses called the Butcher's-Row, which lately 
occupied the whole extent of the front: this row 
originally consisted of fifteen dwellings, but in the 
year 1820, a subscription was commenced, for the 
purpose of purchasing and removing the row, 
which has so far succeeded as to enable the pro 
moters of the design to take down eight of the 
houses, and the inhabitants are now engaged in 
procuring an act of parliament, for removing the 
remaining buildings, and for the general improve- 
ment of the town. When the structure shall be 
completed, and the whole of the unsightly row 
removed, the town will be not altogether unworthy 
of the beautiful country which surrounds it, The 
clothing trade, formerly carried on, to a consider- 
able extent in Ledbury, has been discontinued. 
Much cider and perry, the produce of the neigh- 
bouring orchards, is refined here, and sent to all 
parts of the kingdom. There is a Canal from the 



192 DRIVE TO LEDBURY. 



Severn, to a wharf near this place ; but the supply 
of water is rather uncertain. 

A mile westward of the town, is an eminence, 
called Wallhills, clothed with fine forest trees, 
and copice wood. Upon it's southern bank, is a 
Camp of considerable extent, supposed to be of 
Roman construction. The area contains about 
thirty acres ; it's form is nearly triangular. The 
avenues into it, with their projecting bastions, and 
the whole line of ramparts, are in fine preservation. 
The walk round this relic of ancient warfare is very 
interesting. Delightful prospects appear at every 
turn ; and the deep glen, the gloomy wild, or the 
more extended view, alternately attract attention. 
The view from the eastern side, is particularly ad- 
mired, where the buildings of the town, the ven- 
erable church, it's lofty spire, woods hanging upon 
the varied steeps, and the Herefordshire Beacon, 
appearing between a breach of the nearer hills, with 
it's deeply furrowed brow, frowning upon the les- 
ser heights, present a scene beautifully varied. 

There is another Camp at Haffield, about two 
miles from Ledbury, upon the Gloucester road, 
of less extent. The face of the adjacent country 
presents an intermixture of pasture and tillage 
lands. The orchards that are richly scattered a- 
round, have been long pre-eminent, and in the blos- 
soming season, give the gayest appearance to the 
scenery, which blooms another Eden ; while the 
vast number of forest trees, undeformed by the axe 
of the pruner, complete the luxuriance that swells 
around. Amid this profusion of nature, many 
men of fortune have fixed their residences. The 



DRIVE TO LEDBURY. 193 



**r*r**A 



noble Castle of Earl Somers, and the Mansion of 
E. M. Barrett, esq. from their contiguity to the 
Malvern Hills, have been already noticed. The 
Mansion of John Biddulph, esq. near the entrance 
from Worcester, into the town, presents a specimen 
of the architecture of the sixteenth century. The 
proprietor, by one of whose ancestors the house 
was built, has recently repaired it, preserving" the 
original outline, and has added an additional front, 
with several handsome apartments facing the park. 
This piece of ground is of considerable extent, pre- 
senting a most pleasing succession of hill and 
law*, adorned with the finest forest trees, and af- 
fording a variety of charming views. 

At a short distance from the town, upon the road 
leading to Gloucester, is Underdown House, the 
residence of Richard Webb, esq., a handsome free- 
stone building, upon a cheerful elevation, com- 
manding an extensive prospect, and backed by a 
range of fine woodlands. Two miles further, the 
new-built mansion of William Gordon, esq. is si- 
tuated at the foot of Haffield Camp, before noticed, 
and is not visible from the road. The structure is 
elegant, designed by Mr. Smirke. The extensive 
prospects from the banks above the house are de- 
lightful. Bromsberrow Place, the seat of Os- 
man Ricardo, esq., formerly the property of the 
Yates' family, is seen a little further ; and at seven 
miles on the same road, Down House, belonging 
to Dowdeswell, esq. 

Upon the road leading to Ross, at four miles dis- 
tance, Hellens, the residence of Edward JVal- 
wyn, esq., lies at the foot of Marcle hill, and a little 



194 DRIVE TO LEDBURY. 



beyond, upon it's southern declivity, is Hom- 
house, the seat of Colonel Money. Near the 
northern extremity of this hill, is the Wonder , so 
called, from a large piece of ground, nearly two 
acres, having moved down the hill, and left a con- 
siderable chasm. This phenomenon happened in 
the reign of Elizabeth, as already noticed. 

The remains of Kinnaston Chapel, which was 
overturned and buried under the shifting soil, were 
recently discovered by some workmen who were 
raising stone upon the spot. 

Mainstone, the seat of John Johnstone, esq. 
stands near the road to Hereford, and upon a branch 
leading from the same road, are the mansions of 
the Rev. William Hopton, at Canonfroum Court, 
and of Edward Poole, esq. at the Homend. The 
two last mentioned handsome edifices are not seen 
from the main road, on account of the intervening 
hills. The Homend has been lately newly fronted, 
from a design of Mr. Smirke. 



195 



+*+* r* *^>rfssrr 



EX CURSION TO WORCESTER . 1 

The visiters of Malvern, will find a drive to Wor- 
cester, a delightful morning excursion ; the whole 
distance being distinguished by interesting objects. 
On each side the road, the eye is continually de- 
lighted by expansive meadows, spotted with cattle ; 
rising hills ; fruitful orchards ; elegant hop planta- 
tions ; gardens, pleasant mansions, and extensive 
pleasure-grounds. About the distance of two miles 
and a half, is Newlands, where you find a small 
Chapel, dedicated to St. Leonard. It was former- 
ly a grange or farm, belonging to the Priory of Great 
Malvern . This place contains an assemblage of ru- 
ral villas. About five miles from Malvern, is Pow- 
ick, anciently the seat of John Beauchamp, ad- 
vanced to the dignity of Baron, by Henry the sev- 
enth. This village is memorable also, as having 
given birth to the illustrious Dr. Wall, who excel- 
led in the professional sciences of Therapeutics and 
Chemistry. From it's agreeable situation, Powick 
is become the residence of many respectable fami- 
lies, whose houses are generally remarkable for 
neatness, commanding extremely rich and beau- 
tiful prospects. Among the most elegant houses, 
that, belonging to the heirs of William Russell, esq. 
is the most conspicuous, standing on the left of the 
road to Malvern. This place gave name to a Dean- 
ery. Near the bridge is a beautiful meadow, 



196 EXCURSION TO WORCESTER. 



rs^r*** ssrsj-s^r-jst- 



stretching to the extent of one hundred acres, and 
near it, is the pleasing village of Wick, so denom- 
inated, from the Saxon word Wick, or Creek, in 
consequence of it's proximity to the Teme, which 
terminates it's winding course in the Severn, at a 
short distance hence. Next occurs the neat and 
healthy village of St. John's, consisting, princi- 
pally, of a single street, in which are many respect- 
able and well built houses. It is the favourite 
country residence of many of the citizens of Wor- 
cester ; it's contiguity being a primary recommen- 
dation. On this side, you have a grand view of 
the city, the spire of St. Andrew's Church, rising 
one hundred and fifty-five feet from it's base, the 
point seeming to diminish into air. The venerable 
Cathedral, with it's pinnacles and lofty tower, form 
prominent objects. Besides these, eight other 
churches are visible. Barr, Flight and Barr's 
China Manufactory, upon the opposite bank of the 
Severn, attracts notice. The noble Bridge across 
the Severn, next occurs ; begun in July 25, 1771, 
and opened to the public, Sep. 7, 1781. Upon it's 
centre to the north, is the head of Sabrina, and on 
it's south, the city arms. Upon the stone tablets in 
the centre of the bridge, is inscribed the name of 
John Gwynn, the architect. This handsome stone 
structure, consists of five semicircular arches, 
springing five feet above the lowest water ; the di- 
ameter of the centre arch, is forty-one feet, the ex- 
tent of the bridge, from bank to bank, is about two 
hundred and seventy feet ; it's width between the 
parapets, nearly twenty-five feet. It is said to 
have cost twenty -nine thousand eight hundred and 



excursion to Worcester. 197 



■rsf *-* **■ ** #v# t^t ■**■ 



forty-three pounds. At the western end, stand two 
ornamental toll-houses. The view of this bridge 
from Broad-street, is uncommonly fine, forming a 
foreground to the Malvern hills. 

Worcestershire is situated in the province of 
Canterbury, and diocese of Worcester, in the Ox- 
ford circuit. It pays nine parts of the land-tax, 
and contributed in the year 1801, the sum of 
£87367 towards the maintenance of it's poor. 
It's greatest length is about forty-four miles from 
north-east to south-west, and it's greatest breadth, 
about twenty-nine miles east and west circum- 
ference, including the projecting parts, about 
two hundred and fifty miles, and exclusive of them, 
about oue hundred and twenty-four miles. Con- 
tains five hundreds, one hundred and fifty-two pa- 
rishes, five hundred villages, eight market towns, 
three boroughs, and one city. Sends to parlia- 
ment nine members ; viz. two for the shire, two for 
the city of Worcester, two for Evesham, two for 
Droitwich, and one for Bewdley. The chief com- 
modities are corn, hops, wool, cloth, cheese, salt, 
cider, and perry. The principal rivers are the 
Severn, the Avon, the Teme, the Stour, and the 
Arrow. The city of Worcester was founded at an 
extremely remote period, but to what people it 
owes it's origin, is unknown. It is recorded, that 
when this kingdom was invaded by the Danes, that 
the city was plundered and laid in ashes by those 
relentless conquerors. When, however, the mem- 
orable victory gained by Alfred and his victorious 
army, over these usurpers, rescued the nation from 
this foreign yoke, Ethelred, viceroy of the Wie- 



198 EXCURSION TO WORCESTER. 



cians, and his wife Ethelfreda, daughter of the 
Great Alfred, induced the inhabitants to return and 
rebuild their ancient habitations, by granting them 
many privileges. In 1040, it was again destroy- 
ed, by order of Hardicanute, because the inhabit- 
ants opposed the imposition of a heavy tax. We find 
in Domesday Book, that about forty years after- 
wards, Worcester had risen to some degree of 
wealth and consequence, having a mint. Under 
William the conqueror and his son Rufus, the in- 
habitants of Worcester were distinguished for their 
loyalty. In June 1113, this city, with all it's 
churches, together with the cathedral-church, were 
consumed by fire, and one monk, and two ser- 
vants and fifteen citizens, perished in the flames. 
In November 1133, great part of this city was 
again burnt down by casual fire. King Stephen, 
in the fifteenth year of his reign, marched against 
the city of Worcester, and after a successful as- 
sault, reduced it to ashes ; but he did not find the 
reduction of the Castle, to which he laid siege, 
equally easy, for after many fruitless efforts, he 
abandoned it, leaving the forts he erected upon 
Henwick Hill, to the north-west of the city, and 
upon Digley to the south-east, of which traces still 
remain. In 1214, King John held his chief synod 
at this city, at which the barons and others put in 
their claims, demanding redress, with no small 
urgency. Shortly after, the king was obliged to 
subscribe his name to that memorable charter, which 
is the groundwork of our present constitution, and 
justly denominated Magna Charta. Worcester 
suffered materially during the civil wars between 



EXCURSION TO WORCESTER. 19$ 



the houses of York and Lancaster, In 1486, the 
city endured much from it's adherence to Henry 
the seventh, during Lord Loveli's Rebellion. In 
the turbulent reign of Charles the first, the city 
suffered all the dire effects which civil contentions 
entail on mankind. Worcester had, indeed, been 
long uniformly attached to the royal cause, which 
involved it in the most calamitous sufferings. This 
city became in succession, the refuge of the con- 
tending parties ; and her inhabitants, even at the 
present remote period, shudder with horror at the 
recollection of the sufferings of their ancestors. 
The royalists, unable to retain possession of the 
city, were compelled to abandon it to the pillage 
of the parliamentary force, and to this day, vesti- 
ges of their impiety are visible in the mutilated 
monuments of the cathedral. During the remain- 
der of the contest, this city experienced a variety 
of changes, each attended with a repetition of in- 
jury. The memorable battle of Worcester, seemed 
to bring the fortunes of the royalists to ruin. 

The Cathedral is a magnificent structure, and pre- 
sents a grand and venerable appearance. It's form 
is that of a double cross, displaying the grand fea- 
tures of the gothic style. The proportions of the 
exterior are upon a grand scale, the length from 
east to west being three hundred and ninety-five 
feet in the interior ; length of the choir, one hun- 
dred and twenty-four feet ; breadth of the nave 
and aisle, seventy-eight feet ; height of the choir, 
sixty-eight feet ; of the nave, sixty -six feet. The 
tower, which is two hundred feet high, rises from 
the great cross aisle, and is ornamented at the cor- 



200 EXCURSION TO WORCESTER. 



ners by four lofty pinnacles and elegant battle- 
ments of light open work. Much curious work- 
manship may be seen upon the various sides of the 
tower, as well as in some ancient statues. The in- 
terior of this cathedral is highly interesting, from 
the numerous monuments which it contains. The 
most noted, is that of King John, situated at the 
upper end of the choir, near the altar. Upon it, is 
a representation of that monarch, wearing a crown, 
with the inscription, 

JOHANNES REX ANGLI.2E, 

but much defaced. In his right hand is a sceptre, 
now broken, and in his left, which is stretched by 
his side, is a sword, the point whereof, enters the 
mouth of a lion, which lies at his feet. Or, and be- 
low, in eight several panes, gules, three lions pas- 
sant, gardant, or, « So shineth he," all in gold. 
Small statues of the Bishops, Oswald and Wolstan, 
are placed recumbent on each side. This tomb 
being supposed to be a cenotaph, the dean and 
chapter had determined on it's removal, but on 
opening the tomb, on Monday, July 17, 1797, the 
royal remains were found, placed in the coffin, 
exactly as the figure upon the top of the tomb rep- 
resented. The coffin is of the stone from Higley, 
and wholly unlike that of which the tomb is con- 
structed. It is laid upon the pavement of the 
choir, without being let into it ; it's original cover- 
ing is the stone, upon which the effigy is cut, The 
confusion occasioned by the crowds, who came to 
see the remains of the king, rendered it necessary 
to shut up the object of their curiosity. On the 
evening of the second day, the tomb was restored 



EXCURSION TO WORCESTER. 201 



to it's former situation. On the right of the altar, 
is Prince Arthur's Chapel, with the tomb of the 
Prince, who was elder brother to Henry the eighth. 
This is the most curious part of the Cathedral. The 
decorations consist of five orders of images, with 
the arms of England and other symbols of royalty. 
The top is terminated in an arched roof, curiously 
fretted. In the centre is a pendant. Upon the 
boss, is the arms of the Prince of Wales, carved in 
stone. Beneath this is his tomb, of fine marble, 
having round it's uppermost verge, the following 
inscription : 

HERE LYETH BURIED PRINCE ARTHUR, THE FIRST BEGOTTEN 
SONNE OF THE RIGHTE RENOWNED KING HENRY THE SEAV- 
ENTHE, WHICH NOBLE PRINCE DEPARTED OUT OF THIS TRAN- 
SITORY LIFE ATT THE CASTLE OF LUDLOWE IN THE SEAVEN- 
TEENTH YERE OF HIS FATHER'S RAYGNE AND IN THE YERE 
OF OUR LORDE GOD ON THOUSOND FIVE HUNDRED AND TWO- 

In our Lady's chapel are the tombs of St. Os- 
wald and Wulstan. In the northern transept in 
the great aisle is a most magnificent monument to 
the memory of that eminent prelate, Dr. John 
Hough, by Roubilliac. This is a masterly speci- 
men of sculpture. The taste and skill displayed, 
both in the design and execution, reflect no small 
degree of ciedit on the artist. In the southern tran- 
sept, a little to the left of Bishop Johnson's bust, 
is a magnificent monument, to the memory of that 
venerable and pious divine, Bishop Maddox. Up- 
on the front of the monument is represented, in 
basso relievo, the parable of the Samaritan ; above, 
is a figure of conjugal fidelity, leaning in a melan- 
choly posture, with one hand resting upon an 
inverted hy menial torch. This figure is as large 
14 



202 EXCURSION TO WORCESTER. 



as life. Near the end of the south aisle, is an ele- 
gant white marble monument, to the memory of 
Richard Solly, esq. of York- place, Portman- 
square, who died at Malvern, Sep. 13, 1803, in his 
thirty-third year. It represents his widow bend- 
ing in grief, her arm and head resting upon a 
sarcophagus, upon which is inscribed in small gold 
letters : 

ABSENT FROM THE BODY, BUT PRESENT WITH THE LORD. 

She holds an infant daughter in her lap, one old- 
er is standing by her, with a son kneeling, their 
hands joined. The whole forms a striking illustra- 
tion of domestic calamity. There are besides these, 
about sixty other fine monuments, but we have no- 
ticed these as peculiarly interesting and beautiful. 
In the library adjoining are some ancient manu- 
scripts. Two sextons alternately attend daily, to 
shew the Cathedral. The Bishop's Palace stands 
near the Cathedral, in a most commanding situation, 
uport the bank of the Severn, which flows at the 
bottom of the garden. Modern improvements have 
made considerable alterations in it's appearance - T 
originally, it was surrounded with embattled walls. 
Bishop Giffard obtained a royal licence from 
King Henry, in 1270, to fortify and inclose it, but 
itVpresent front is the work of Bishop Stillingfleet. 
The most modern renovation was in 1788, when it 
was prepared for his late Majesty, who, with the 
Queen and several branches of the family, made it 
their residence during their visit to Worcester. 
The public buildings are numerous and worthy the 
dignity of the city. The Guildhall in the High- 
street, is esteemed the most elegant and magnificent 



EXCURSION TO WORCESTER. 203 

in the Kingdom. In the council chamber, is a por- 
trait of his late Majesty, presented by him to the 
corporation. There are also in the hall helow, 
some other good paintings, among which, are those 
of the lord Keeper, Coventry and Thomas Win- 
nington, esq., the latter is esteemed a master-piece 
by connoisseurs. The Procelain works carried 
on at Worcester, are considered the first in the 
kingdom. Messrs. Bar r, with the greatest liberality, 
furnish tickets of admission, for viewing the pro- 
cess, on application at their house, No. 45, High- 
street; and cards of admission to Mr. Chamber- 
lain's procelain works, may be had, No. 59, High- 
street. To view Mr. Grainger's works, apply at 
the house nearly opposite the Hop-market. There 
are here, two very old and well established Banks. 
The old bank is situate in the High-street, under 
the firm of Messrs. Berwick, Lechemere, Wall and 
Isaac ; the other, that of Messrs. Farley, Johnson, 
Turner and Owen . Attendance is given at each of 
these Banks, for transaction of business, from ten 
to three. 

See further, "A Concise History of the City and 
Suburbs of Worcester ;" printed and sold by T, 
Eaton, price 3s. Sd. 



204 



NOBLEMEN AND GENTLEMEN^ 



SEATS 



5 
IN THE VICINITY OF MALVERN. 



Stimulated by gratitude, for favours indeliably 
impressed on the mind, the author may be pardon- 
ed for paying a first attention to 

STOKE EDITH PARK,* 9 

the hospitable, elegant and beautiful seat of Edward 
Foley, esq. eldest son of the late Hon. Edward Fo- 
ley, who represented the county of Worcester, 
in many successive parliaments, and grandson of 
Thomas, the second Lord Foley, is situated sixteen 
miles from Malvern, on the road to Hereford. 
This seat derived it's name from the dedication of 
the church to St. Editha, daughter to King Egbert. 
The family of the Wallwains, during the reigns of 
Edward the second and third, were lords of this 
manor, and patrons of the church. We cannot find 
any record of it's continuance in this family ; but 
in Henry the eighth's time, Sir John Lingen pos- 
sessed it by marriage. The heirs and executors of 
Sir Henry Lingen, sold it during the sixteenth cen- 
tury, to Thomas Foley, esq., by whom it was be- 
queathed to his second son, Paul, who represented 
the city of Hereford, in the reigns of Charles- the 



NOBLEMEN AND GENTLEMEN'S SEATS. 205 



second, 1678; James the second, 1688; William 
and Mary, 1690. It continued the chief residence 
of the Foley family, while they remained younger 
branches ; but when they succeeded to the mansion 
and estate at Witley, in Worcestershire, they made 
that their residence, and their estate was left to the 
second son, the honourable Edward Foley, above 
mentioned. The present house is a very handsome 
brick and stone building, erected near the site of 
the former mansion, by Paul Foley, esq., ancestor 
to the present possessor. The architecture is of 
the reigns of William and Mary and Anne. It 
was completed in the reign of the latter. This edi- 
fice is of most excellent workmanship, and the in- 
terior has much to recommend it, as an object of 
minute investigation to the visiter of taste. The 
grand entrance-hall and staircase are painted with 
allegorical subjects, by Sir James Thornhill. The 
ceiling is particularly fine, and in very excellent 
preservation. The situation is delightful ; no de 
scription can give an adequate idea of the park, 
and great diversity of charming and highly pictu- 
resque views, seen from different points in the 
many extensive drives, rides and walks it contains ; 
passing from hill to vale, through winding paths, 
occasionally overhung with groves of the noblest 
timber trees. The view through these lofty oaks, 
upon the summit of the park, presents a variety of 
gratifying objects, with many pleasing varieties of 
the meauderings of the Wye, with it's adjoining 
beauties, which cannot fail of affording an ample 
treat to an admirer of natural landscape. 



206 HANLEY CASTLE. 



Amid Silurian plains, fair Stoke ! the muse 
Stays her excursive wing, thee to survey, 
Seated in pleasantness. Around thee, lo ! 
Rich vales, enclosures, rivers, woods, and hills, 
In prodigal variety are seen. 
Thy pride, exuberant Hereford ! (of shires 
The loveliest,) 'tis to boast Ebitha's lawns 
Most lovely ; on whose pure aerial heights, 
Rapt vision roams unwearied, sweetly woo'd 
By nature's countless charms. Nor resting finds, 
Nor resting needs, the gladly- roving eye. 

AugUSt 12, 1823. |r. BOOKER, L. L. D. 

In fine, the facade of this elegant seat, it's exten- 
sive shrubberies, the spire of the parish church, the 
handsome parsonage, the neat village, and the park 
richly clothed with fine timber trees, in the back 
ground, rising to a considerable height above the 
mansion, demands the pen of a Milton, and the pen- 
cil of a Claud, or a Turner, to do it justice. 



HANLEY CASTLE. 1 * 

I may not well forget, while tracing round 
These spacious scenes, where Hanley Castle stood* 
Now not one stone remains to claim the sigh 
Of passing man ; save when the hollow winds, 
Bending the nightshade's head, or nettle, rank, 
Disclose some sculptur*d fragments green and damp, 
And half immured in earth. But the' this pile 
Hath fallen long, yet fancy still delights 
To wake the busy scenes of ancient days, 
— All is gone ! 

Past like a dream ! and Beauchamp too is gonet 
The great, the gallant Beauchamp, known no more. 

Cottle. 

Some say that Edward Bonner, Bishop of Lon- 
don, was born in Hanley Castle ; others say in the 
parish of Hanley, at a house called Bonner's 
Place, belonging to the family of the Lechemeres, 
whose ancestor was intimately acquainted with the 



BRANSIL CASTLE. 207 



Bishop^ and received many favours, in return for 
kindnesses shewn to him in his childhood. 

The way to Hanley lies across the Chase, by the 
Up ton road, distant about seven miles from Great 
Malvern. 

BRANSIL CASTLE. 

Upon the western declivity of Malvern Hill, 
about a mile and a half from Eastnor Castle, are the 
ruins of Bransii Castle, the property of Earl Som- 
ers, purchased by Sir Charles Cocks, father to earl 
Somers. A great part of one of the towers, is the 
only vestage remaining of this venerable structure. 
It was defended by a double ditch, faced with stone. 

Mr. Cottle has beautifully animadverted on this 
subject, as follows. 

A musing melancholy fills the mind, 

As we behold where Bransii turrets stood, 

How are the days gone by ! how changed the scene ! 

Since circled by a vast and rich domain, 

It's towers arose ! majestic moated round, 

And made to bear the assault of ages 1 now 

The neighbouring shepherd scarce can point the place, 

Where once it stood i significant of man ! 

To teach his race the great, the solemn truth, 

What shades they are, what shadows they pursue. 

MADDERSF1ELD, 6 

the seat of the right hon. Earl Beauehamp, is only 
three miles from Malvern, situated to the right 
of the road leading to Worcester. The way to it, 
is by Newland Green, passing Newland Chapel 
on the right. A level road conducts you to a hand- 
some park-gate, whence a winding road leads to 



208 MADDERSFIELD. 



the small chapel of Maddersfield, so completely 
embosomed with trees, that nothing but the turret 
and spire are seen at a distance. Tho' very small, it 
has double aisles, and the interior is extremely neat, 
retaining an antique character. Maddersfield was 
anciently a manor, belonging to the abbot of West- 
minster, and once the residence of the ancient fam- 
lies of the Bracys. Joan Bracy, heiress of this 
family, married Thomas Lygon, of Norman ori- 
gin. By this marriage the name of Bracy was lost 
and that of Lygon succeeded. The moat still sleeps 
along the walls, the foundation of which are laid 
in the water ; an antique bridge still leads to the 
gateway, and it's appendants a gothic arch, grated 
doors and spandrilled roof. These serve to remind 
us of iron-clad knights, milk-white palfreys, the 
rousing horn, the minstrel's lay. The house has 
been much modernized, but still retains somewhat 
of the ancient baronical castle. A vestibule in- 
troduces the hall, which is a lofty apartment, well 
preserved. Some modern painted glass throws 
a good light upon some pictures, by Fuseli. A 
dimly lighted gallery leads to the breakfast-room, 
which is elegant. The saloon contains a profusion 
of elegant painted glass. The two drawing rooms 
are very superbly fitted up with marble slabs, cab- 
inets of gilt brass and tortoiseshell, from the Garde- 
meuble of Louis 16. The walls of the dining-room 
are crimson, with white pannels and ornaments, 
and classical medalions chiaroscuro. Over the 
chimney-piece is a very handsome flower-piece. 
The candelabra are elegant. This apartment leads 
to the orangery, whence the grounds appear with 



MADDERSFIELD. 209 



great effect. A staircase leads to the winter draw- 
ing-room, which is hung with great taste, and a pro- 
fusion of rich minatures adorn it's walls. The long 
gallery is that of the unimproved mansion, and it 
is preserved in it's original state. It contains a 
profusion of pictures, books, busts, china, &c. The 
King's room is a plain simple bed-chamber, where 
tradition says, King Charles the second slept, the 
night before the battle of Worcester. The state 
bed-room contains an elegant bed, the quilt and 
furniture of which we re worked by Queen Anne and 
the Dutchess of Marlborough. The appartments 
have been greatly divested of their gloomy gran- 
deur, and present a cheerful appearance. The win- 
dows command a delightful prospect of Malvern 
Hills, with the village of Great Malvern at their 
base. The woodland scenery is extremely beauti- 
ful, and the park is agreeably diversified by some 
pieces of water. It should be remarked that Mad- 
dersfield is not permitted to be shewn, on account 
of the family being generally at home, and it's vicin- 
ity to a watering-place, would cause great inter- 
ruption, It has been seen only by particular in- 
dulgence. There is another road to Maddersfield, 
by going down the end of Bernard's Green, 6 to the 
left. Both of the drives are very pleasing. You 
see the hills and village of Malvern to great advan- 
tage, as you pass the green. We would advise the 
visiter to drive by Newland's Green, and return 
back to the village by Bernard's Green. The dis- 
tance from Malvern to Maddersfield by each road 
is nearly equal. 



210 BLACKMORE PARK. RHYPP. 



r//^M ***•*++ r+ 



BLACKMORE PARK. 7 

is situated about two miles from Great Malvern. 
The road to it turns off to the right, from the top 
of Bernard's Green, It is the seat of Thomas 
Hornyhold, esq., whose family is matrimonially al- 
lied to the Lygons, the Russels, and to most of the 
ancient families of consequence in the neighbour- 
hood. During the wars, in the time of Charles the 
first, this family suffered severely, from their adher- 
ence to the royal cause, their estates being seques- 
tered, and large quantities of timber cut down and 
sold, to reimburse the losses of an alderman of 
Worcester, who was an adherent of the republican 
party. The manor of Hanley and Blackmore Park, 
continues, however, in the possession of Mr, Tho- 
mas Hornyhold. The present house is an elegant 
residence, surrounded by a rich demesne, well 
wooded with fine elms ; and tho' comparatively 
low, as respects the adjoining scenery, it commands 
extensive prospects. As a picturesque object, it 
would have appeared to greater advantage, if the 
fine timber in the park had not been planted so form- 
ally, the beauty of the landscape being euriched by 
some large pieces of water, in it's immediate 
vicinity. 



RHYDD. 

About four miles from the village and near to the 
Severn, you find the hospitable mansion of Sir 



CROOME, ETC. 211 

*■* ******* ******* 

Anthony Lechemere, Bart., standing upon rising 
ground. It is a prominent object on both sides the 
river, and a noble wood, to the south of the house, 
stretches along the cliff which overhangs the river, 
commanding numberless rich and extensive views. 
The towers and spires of Worcester, appear in the 
distance to the north, forming a pleasing termina- 
tion to the prospect. Near to it is 



DRAKE'S PLACE, 

the seat of John Allen, esq. The road lies down 
Bernard's Green. 



SEVERN END 

is a little to the left of the former ; the comfortable 
residence of Mr. Larkin, whose house you arrive 
at, through what is called the Rhydd Green. 

DRIPSH1LL, 9 

is the rural and picturesque abode of Mr. Eyere. 
Over these, at the distance of thirteen miles, 
rise the woods, plantations, white rotundo and 
gothic church of 

CROOME, 10 

the seat of the Earl of Coventry. This elegant 
modern mansion, where the powers of art and 
the skill of Brown, have reigned uncontrouledly, 
certainly requires an excursion. From an insipid 



212 HOPE END. 



level have been raised, wood and ornamental 
buildings Water has been commanded to flow, 
dales to sink, and hills to rise. Brown indeed has 
been complimented, but these improvements were 
produced by the genius of it's proprietor. The 
road through Severn Stoke is the best approach. 
An elegant modern Temple, supported by plain 
doric pillars, is presently descried, as a leading ob- 
ject. Then occur the park ; to the right, the pa- 
rish church, the park-gate, handsome lodges, and 
an elegant bridge. The house is plain, rather than 
magnificent, but the interior is highly interesting. 
The saloon contains some fine portraits ; the draw- 
ing-room, a landscape by Claude Lorraine, an 
exquisite Madona, two Cleopatras, two Venus- 
es, &c, and is remarkable for it's exquisitely 
fine gobeline tapestry. The library contains 
some antique models. The hall is supported by 
elegant columns, and the floor is of superb marble. 
The long room contains an extensive gallery, and 
commands a fine view of the lake and grounds, with 
walks, well traced through lawns, shrubberies, plan- 
tations, statues, grottos, &c. During the tour of 
the grounds we catch delightful prospects. The 
Bredon Hills, surmounted by it's monument, and 
the Broadway Hills, bearing a lofty gothic tower. 
To the right, the horizon is formed, by the Cotes- 
wold Hills, rising over Upton, Tewkesbury, and 
Cheltenham. 

HOPE END, 
the seat of E. M. Barret, esq., is situated about six 



BRAND LODGE. 213 



miles from the village of Malvern, upon the right 
of the Ledbury road, in a retired valley, in the par- 
ish of Colwall. The architecture of the mansion, 
is in the eastern style, and many of the apartments 
are highly finished. The house is nearly surround- 
ed with eminences, but to the south, the scenery is 
extensive and beautiful. In the front of the house 
are some fine pieces of water, and upon the banks, a 
variety of fine shrubs and evergreens. From the 
windows on one side of the house, is a very large 
projection of rock, which the taste of the owner 
has highly ornamented with a fine collection of 
plants. There is a subterraneous passage from the 
house, leading to the garden. In the deer-park, 
which is not very extensive, is an ash, said to be 
one of the largest in Great Britain. 

BRAND LODGE, 

at the distance of two miles from Malvern Wells, 
is a neat house, the property of Mr. Bright. It's 
situation is upon the western declivity of the Mal- 
vern Hills, upon a plain, elevated above five hun- 
dred feet above the level. From this spot, is a fine 
view of Camp Hill, which is about half a mile dis- 
tant. The prospect from the Lodge is very ex- 
tensive. The situation is not so bleak as might be 
expected from it's elevated situation, being shel- 
tered from the eastern winds, by the Malvern Hills, 
and from the north, by woods. The front of the 
house is shaded with a range of evergreens. 



Entrancing Malvern ! ah farewell ! for now 
Must I return to breathe polluted air; 
To mix with men envelop'd in the cares 
Of this our world ; and be envelop' d too 5 
To hear their converse, how to meet with wealth, 
And prosperous fortune, and the little aims 
Of thrifty patience. With far other thoughts 
I join their throng, for I will love to think 
On you, dear mount ! and ponder On the joys 
This morn bestow 'd, and say, pressing my hearty 
Than to review with memory's musing eye, 
Your lofty sammit, mark it's subject vales, 
It's many scattered spires, and hamlets small, 
And hear the magic orisons of birds, 
Breaking the silence with their melody, 
Not sweeter to the nightly traveller's ear 
Sounds the soft lute. 

COTTLE. 



115 



PLANTS, 

Growing at Malvern and in the Neighbourhood. 

Aquilegia vulgaris, wild columbine, in a thicket near the 

north western part of the hill towards Cowley park. 
Arenaria tenuifolia, fine-leaved sandwort, Malvern hills. 
Campanula patula, field bell-flower, Malvern. 
Chlora perfoliata, perforated yellow-wort, side of Mal- 
vern chace. 
Colchicum autumnale, meadow safron, Great Malvern. 
Cotyledon umbilicus, common naveiwort, upon rocks 

above Great Malvern. 
Digitalis purpurea, purple foxglove, plentiful all over the 

hills. A variety with white flowers, occurs. 
Drosera rotundifolia, round-leaved sundew, in one or two 

marshy spots, upon the eastern side of the hill. 
Fumaria claviculata, white climbing fumitory, among the 

furze and thickets upon the eastern side of the hills. 
Galanthus nivalis, snowdrop, at the foot of the Malvern- 

hills, on the right of the road running below the camp. 
Helleborus viridis, green hellebore, Malvern chace. 
Hypericum androsaemum, tutsan, lanes at the foot of the 

Malvern hills. 
Lichen geographicus, map lichen, granite rocks upon the 

top of the hills. 
Lichen islandicus, upon rocks upon the top of the hill near 

the Witch. 
Lichen pareilus, crab's-eye lichen, granite rocks upon the 

hills. 
Lichen physodes, upon the hills. 



216 PLANTS, 



Lichen plicatus, matted tree-moss, in a dell, upon the 

branches of large oaks, Little Malvern. 
Lichen pustulatus, blistered lichen, rocks upon the tops of 

the hills. 
Lichen rangiferinus, rein-deer moss, among moss and turf, 

all over the hills. 
Lichen scrobiculatus, warty lichen, upon rocks above 

Great Malvern. 
Lichen tenobiculatus, rocks above Great Malvern. 
Mariantia polymorpha, in a pool of water upon the western 

side of the hill, near Col wall. 
Myosurus minimus, little mousetail, Malvern ehace* 
Orchis bifolia, butterfly orchis, Essington's wood. 
Orchis conopsea, red handed orchis, upon the western side 

of the hills. 
Orchis ustulata, dwarf orchis, in meadows about the foot 

of the hills. 
Pinguecula vulgaris, common butterwort, in a marshy spot 

at the back of the hills, between the Witch and Malvern. 
Polygonum minus, small creeping persicaria, gravel pit on 

Malvern chace. 
Potentilla verna, spring ciaquefoil, limestone rocks, upon 

the western side of the hill. 
Ranunculus lingua, great spearwort, bogs, Malvern chace.. 
Ranunculus parviflorus, small flowered crowfoot, Malvern 

hills 
Satyrium viride, frog orchis, in meadows about the foot 

the bills, both sides. 
Scirpus acicularis, slender clubrush, on Malvern chace. 
Sedum album, white flowered stonecrop, upon rocks by 

the side of the Malvern hills, above great Malvern. 
Serapius longifolia, swampy meadows, on the borders of 

Malvern chace. 



217 



THE FOLLOWING TERMS 

OF 

SOUTHALL'S BOARDING-HOUSE, 

IN PRIVATE APARTMENTS, 
LIBRARY, MAIVERir 9 

may serve to give the stranger some idea of the expenses, 
and accommodations. 



TERMS. £. s . d. 

Board, per Week, 2 2 

Bed Room, from 7s. to 110 

Lights, per Week, 3 6 

Servant's Board, including Tea for Breakfast, 12 

Afternoon Tea, for upper Servants, 3 6 

Man Servant's Bed, 3 6 

Separate Rooms, for diito, 7 

Sitting -Room, from 14s. to 15 



15 



218 



COACHES, &c. 

The Mail every day from Hereford, arrives at Malvern, 
passes through about half-past one, p. m. and proceeds to 
Worcester. 

The Mail from Worcester to Hereford comes in at the 
Foley-arms, Malvern, where they take passengers, about 
half-past eleven, a. m. 

Various other Coaches pass continually from Worcester 
through Malvern to Cheltenham, and back ; from Here- 
ford to Worcester; from Worcester to Carmarthen, 
through Ledbury, Hereford, Hay, Brecon, Llandovery, 
Llandilo, meeting Coaches from Milford Haven; but they 
are liable to change their hours, so that the most correct ac- 
count which could be given at present, might become in- 
correct in a few days. 

Carts go regularly from Malvern to Worcester, every 
Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, and return the same 
evening, with goods from Worcester, and such as are 
brought by the coaches, waggons and canals. The cart- 
ers are very civil and attentive, and will execute any com- 
mission however trifling. 

At the Inns in Malvern, elegant Carriages of various 
descriptions, and some of the best post-horses in the king- 
dom may be had. 

The visiter may be supplied with Poneys, Donkeys and 
Donkey-Carriages, by the hour or day. The Donkeys are 
useful appendages in ascending the hills, being very sure 
footed. Indeed they are so perfectly safe, that in twelve 
years, we do not recollect one accident, occasioned by a 
Donkey. 



219 



NAMES OF PERSONS 

WHICH OCCUR IN THIS WORK. 



Abbot, mrs. Sarah Frances, pa. 81 
Aldwin, or Aldewine, founder of 

Ihe Monastery, 50, 52, 59,64,73 
Allen, John, esq. 211 
Angelo, Michael, 64 
Arthur, prince, 57,201 
Athelisa, vice-comitissa, 49 
Baillie, dr. 27 
Banister, mr. 51 
Barnabj', John, esq. 152 
Barrett, E. M. esq. 13, 14,25,26, 

47,212 
Barry, mrs. 176, 177 
Bathurst, hon. mrs. 74 
Baylis, John, 81 
Beard, mr. 94 

Beauchamp, earl , 62, 104, 127,207 
Bellers, mr. 55 
Benbow, mr. Richard, 82 
Bergman, dr. 40 
Biddulph, J. esq. 193 
Bohun, dr. Henry, 136 
Bonner, bishop, 206 
Booker, dr. 64,65,167 
Brathewayte, Richard, 54 
Bray, sir Reginald, 57, 68, 69, 
Bright, mr. 121,213 
Bromley, Roger, 54 
Buchanan, general, 32, 82 

157, 158, 167 
Buckingham, duke of, 126 
Burdet, William, 54 
Camden, 13 
Caractacus, 182, 184 
Card, John, esq., 76 
Card, rev. dr. 30, 58, 59, 65 

85, 104, 107, 109 
Carter, John, 62, 69, 72 
Chambers, Mr. H. 62 
Charles, king, first, 115, 128, 199, 
Charles, king, second, 115, 126, 

127 



120. 



84. 



Charlotte, princess, 62, 65 

Chaucer, 10 

Claudius, emperor, 184 

Clements, Henry, 72 

Clough, mr. 13 

Cocks, honourable E. C. 189 

Colt, miss Grace, 75 

Combier, dr. Tl 

Cope, lady Annabella, 77 

Cope, Sir Jonathan, 78 

Corbet, Walter, 72 

Cottle, 173 

Coventry, earl of, 211 

Crispinus, Gislebertus, 52 

Cromwell, 126, 127 

Darner, hon. Mr. 16, 156 

Deykes, mr. John, 89, 92 

Deykes, mr. Samuel, 85, 87, 95, 

105, 120 
Dowdeswell,esq. 193 
Dyer, 11 
Editha, St. 204 
Edward, confessor, 49, 50, 53 
Edward, first, 130 
Eg win, third, 129 
Elizabeth, queen, 50, 54, 68, 175 
Englefield, sir Henry, 14 
Etbelred, 144 
Eyere, mr. 211 
Fitzpontz, Richard, 53 
Fitzpontz, Osborne, 53 
Foley, Edward , esq. 109, 155, 205 
Foley, Paul, 205 
Folliot, Hugh, 191 
Forbes, sir Alexander, 57, 62, 87, 

91,101,103,104,126,164 
Frankland, William, esq. 73 
Garlike, Bennet, esq. m. d. 172 
Giffard, bishop, 53, 202 
Gilbert de Clare, 53 
Gordon, William, esq. 193 
Grandison, lord, 13 



.220 



NAMES OF PERSONS. 



^*+****v^r*4- t 



Gregory, pope, 64 

Grenville, lord, 120, 165 

Habyngdon, 50 

Harcourt, countess of, 120, 121, 

122, 123, 158 
Heard, sir Isaac, 171 
Henry, king, first, 49, 52 
Henry, king, eighth, 54, 68 
Henry, prince, 57, 68, 69 
Hill, mr. 14 

Hallings, rev. Wm. 71, 75 
Holland, mi=s Harriet, 81 
Hopton, rev. Wm. 194 
Horner, Leonard, esq. 18, 19, 21, 

26 
Hornyhold, Thomas, 121 , 172, 210 
Hough, dr. John, 201 
James, second, king, 205 
John, king, 200 
Johnson, 201 
Johnstone, dr. 33 
Knotsford, John, 54, 57, 79, SO 
Lambe, dr. 46 
Lambert, sir Henry, 164 
Langlande, 9 

Larkin, mr. 211 
Latimer, bishop, 54 

Lechemere, sir A. 80, 128, 211 

Leicester, earl of, 130 

Leopold, prince, 65 

Lygon, Thomas, 208 

Lyttelton, lady, 58, 99, 101, 103, 
105 

Maddox, bishop, 201 

Malvern, John, 10, 64 

Mary, Virgin, 51, 56 

Mason, mr. 33 

Merrick, rev. 1 1 

Millman, sir Francis, 45 

Milton, 10 

Montgomerie, Alex. esq. 71, 77 

Nash, dr. 49, 50, 60, 61 

Neal, mr. 50 

Offa, 129, 150 

Peyton, Nicholas, esq. 189 

Phillip, dr. Wilson, 38,39, 45,48 

Phillips, William, esq. 19, 21 

Pinnock, William, 54 

Plumer, mrs. 79 

Poole, Edward, esq. 



Pyndar, rev. R. 189 
Ricardo, Osman, esq. 193 
Rudd, rev. E. M. 159, 164, 168 
Sabrina, 10, 196 
Sandys, bishop, 172 
Saunders, dr. 40 
Savage, sir John, 68 
Scapula, Ostorius, 184 
Scudamore, dr. 44, 47 
Shenstone, William, 99 
Smirke, mr. 145 
Solaway, mr. 59 
Solly, Richard, esq. 202 
Somers, earl, 175, 207 
Somers, lord John, 188 
Southall,mr. 87,89,90 
Spencer, lady, 156 
Spencer, poet, 10 
Stanhope, mr. 61 
Stephen, king, 198 
Strutt, mr. 69 
Surman, John, esq. 80, 81 
Talbot, lady Mary, 163 
Tanner, mr. 50 
Thomas, mr. 49 
Thornhill, sir James, 205 
Tailer, Thomas, 13 
Tilsby, John, 145 
Urso D'Abitot,49 
Wakeman, mrs. 175, 176 
Walcher, 73 

Wall, dr. John, 33, 38, 45, 47 
Wall, dr. Martin, 38, 41, 45 
Wahvyn, Edward, 193 
Walwyn, Humphrey, esq. 161 
Ware, Richard, 53 
Webb, Richard, esq. 193 
West, misses, 36, 171 
Wigram, sir Robert, 172 
William, first, 71, 111 
William of Malmsbury, 50 
Williams, Maria Giffard, 74 
William Rufus, 198 
Williams, William, 160 
Winnington, sir Edward, 61 
Woodyatt, Thomas, esq. 157, 164 
Woodyatt, rev E. 175 
Wulstan, St. 52, 53, 201 
Yarnold, mrs. 78 



221 



NAMES OF PLACES. 



Alcove, 170 

Altitudes of the Hills, 15 

Barr and Co's China Manufacto- 
ry, 196 
Barry's Cottage, mrs. 171 
Barton Court, 189 
Baths, 91 

Belmont Lodge, 172 
Billiard Room, 92 
Bishop's Palace, 202 
Blackmore Park, 210 
Boarding-houses, 92 
Boarding-house Abbey, 95 
Boarding-house Library, 90 
Booker's Mount, 167 
Brand Lodge, 213 
Bransil Castle, 27 
Broadlow, 190 
Bromsberrow Place, 193 
Buchanan's Walk, 157 

Canonfroun Court, 194 

Charitable Institution, 99 

Chace of Malvern, 111 

Church of Great Malvern 28, 30, 
56 

Church of Great Malvern, Bene- 
factions to, 83 

Church of Great Malvern, Inscrip- 
tions in, 73 

Coaches, &c. 218 

Croome, 211. 

Darner's Walk, 156 
Down House, 193 
Drake's Place, 211 
Dripshill, 211 

Drive to Eastnor Castle, 187 
Drive to the Herefordshire Bea- 
con, 182 
Drive to Ledbury, 189 



Eastnor Castle, Drive to, 187 
Essington's Hotel, 170, 172 
Excursion to Worcester, 195 

Female Servants Benefit Institu- 
tion, 107 
Firs House, 172 
Foley Terrace, drive to, 155 

Gloucester House, 172 
Grenville's Walk, 165 

Hanley Castle, 206 
Harcourt's, Lady, Alcove, 121 
Harcourt's Tower, walk to, 158 
Hellen?, 193 
Herefordshire Beacon, Drive to, 

182 
Hills, Altitudes of, 15 
Hills, Prospects from, 16 
Homend, 194 
HomHouse, 194 
Hope End, 212 
Hotel, Belle-vue, 94 
Hotel, Crown, 94 
Hotel, Foley-arms, 95 

Inns, 29 

Kinnastone Chapel, 194 

Lady Mary Talbot's Walk, 163 
Lambert's Walk, 164 
Ledbury, 190 
Ledbury, Drive to, 189 
Library and Reading Room, 29 

87 
Little Malvejn, 172 . 
Little Malvern Church, 174 
Little Malvern, Drive to, 171 
Little Malvern Sunday School, 

176 



NAMES OF PLACES. 



■r* r*.r-rr*f j 



Maddersfield, 207 

Mainstone, 194 

Malvern, Building of Sod, 13 

Malvern Camp, 12 

Malvern Cave, 12 

Malvern Chase, 111 

Malvern, Cottle's Farewell to, 

214 
Malvern, Great, 9, 27 
Malvern Hills, 11 
Malvern, imaginary description 

of, 168 
Malvern, it's Climate, 27 
Malvern, it's Population, 28 
Malvern, situation of, 30 
May Place, 172 
Melton-house, 172 
Merrick's Walk, 158 
Mineralogy, IS 

Newlands, 195 
North Cottage, 177 

Panoramic sketch, 154 

Parks, the seat of Mrs. West, 171 

Perseverance hill, 170 

Physician of Malvern, 30 

Plants, 215 

Poems to the ladies who elimb the 

hills, 171 
Poet's cot, 167 
Post-office, 97 
Porcelain-works, 203 
Prince Arthur's Chapel, 201 
Priory, 49 
Priory-gateway, 29 
Prospects from the hills, 16 

Regent-lodge, 172 

Rhydd, 210 

Ride, round the North Terrace, 

161 
Rock house 170 
Ruby cottage, 172 

St. John's, 196 

School of ancient industry, 103 
Severn-end, 211 
South lodge, 172 

Southall's Boarding house, terms 
of, 217 



Spencer's Walk, 156 
Stoke Edith Park, 204 
Sunday-school of Great Malvern, 
99 

Table hill, 167 

Underdown house, 193 
Upper hall, 189 

Walk to the Worcestershire Bea- 
con, 124 

Walks, references to the sketch 
of, 179 

Walks, references to the sketch 
of, arranged alphabetically, 
181 

Wallhills, 192 

Waters, encomium on by Sir F. 
Millman, 45 

Waters, remarks on by Dr. John- 
stone, 38 

Waters, remarks on by Dr. Phil- 
lip, 38 

Waters, remarks on by Dr. Scud- 
damore, 38 

Waters, remarks on by Dr. San- 
derson, 44 

Waters, remarks on by Dr. Wall, 
33, 41 

Waters, season for drinking, 43 

Waters, directions for drinking 
the, 42, 47 

Wells, Boarding and Lodging- 
houses, 170 

Wells, 32 

Wells, analysis of, 39 

Wells, Chalybeate, 32 

Wells, Holywell, 35 

Wells, ride over the Hills to the, 
169 

Wells, St. Ann's, 36 

Worcester, 297 

Worcester Bridge, 196 

Worcester, Excursion to, 195 

Worcestershire Beacon, objects 
thence, 125 

Worcestershire Beacon, walk to 
124 

Worcester Cathedral, 169 



V OF C 

BINDERY 

1903 



